Chromosome segregation and site-specific recombination are central processes in bacterial cell division and genome maintenance. The orchestration of these events ensures that circular chromosomes are ...

New research shows bacteria form distinct species and maintain cohesion through frequent DNA exchange via homologous recombination. When Kostas Konstantinidis proved that many microbes -- like plants ...

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is an important factor in bacterial evolution that can act across species boundaries. Yet, we know little about rate and genomic targets of cross-lineage gene transfer ...

Researchers are starting to characterize how populations of Neisseria bacteria exchange genes, including virulence and antibiotic resistance genes that could help the bugs become more pathogenic, ...