O. Zhaxybayeva

Co-evolution of gene transfer agents and their alphaproteobacterial hosts

The paper identifies 59 gene families co-evolving with GTA genes in alphaproteobacteria, suggesting they are involved in stress response, DNA repair, and biofilm formation, supporting a model for GTA persistence in microbial populations.

Early divergence and gene exchange highways in the evolutionary history of Mesoaciditogales

This study examines the evolutionary history of Mesoaciditogales, finding evidence of horizontal gene transfer between Mesoaciditogales and Petrotogales, suggesting adaptation to similar temperature niches.

Distribution and abundance of tetraether lipid cyclization genes in terrestrial hot springs reflects pH

The paper examines the distribution and abundance of grs homologs in microbial communities from terrestrial hot springs, finding a strong negative correlation with pH and weak positive correlation with temperature.

Selection for translational efficiency in genes associated with alphaproteobacterial gene transfer agents

The paper identifies codon usage bias in GTA genes of alphaproteobacteria, suggesting selection for translational efficiency during GTA production, and finds genes potentially involved in DNA integration.

Formal Recognition and Classification of Gene Transfer Agents as Viriforms

The paper argues that gene transfer agents (GTAs) should be classified as viriforms rather than viruses due to their unique lifecycle and genetic characteristics.

Newly identified proviruses in Thermotogota suggest that viruses are the vehicles on the highways of interphylum gene sharing.

The paper identifies 17 proviruses in Thermotogota, suggesting viruses mediate gene transfer between Firmicutes and Thermotogota.

Phylogenetic evidence of headful packaging strategy in gene transfer agents

The paper reconstructs the evolutionary history of GTA terminase to show RcGTA evolved from a headful packaging virus.

Nutrient supplementation experiments with saltern microbial communities implicate utilization of DNA as a source of phosphorus

The paper shows that microbial communities use DNA as a phosphorus source in salterns, with growth dependent on additional carbon and nitrogen, and taxonomic shifts indicating preferential eDNA uptake from abundant taxa.

Selection for reducing energy cost of protein production drives the GC content and amino acid composition bias in gene transfer agents

This paper shows that GTA genes evolve under positive selection for reduced energy cost of protein production, suggesting GTAs are bacterial adaptations for horizontal gene transfer under nutrient stress.

The structure of a highly conserved picocyanobacterial protein reveals a Tudor domain with an RNA binding function

This study determines the structure of PSHCP, a highly conserved protein in cyanobacteria, revealing it contains a Tudor domain with RNA-binding activity, suggesting a role in translation.

From morphogenesis to pathogenesis: A cellulose loosening protein is one of the most widely distributed tools in nature

The paper investigates the phylogenetic distribution of expansin genes in microbes, revealing their presence in diverse bacterial and fungal lineages and suggesting horizontal gene transfer as a mechanism for their broad distribution.

An introduced crop plant is driving diversification of the virulent bacterial pathogen Erwinia tracheiphila

The paper sequenced E. tracheiphila genomes to show introduced cucumber plants drive its diversification into distinct lineages.

Insights into Origin and Evolution of α-proteobacterial Gene Transfer Agents

This study investigates the origin and evolution of RcGTA in α-proteobacteria, finding that it co-evolves with host chromosomes and is not an atypical or defective virus.