Are humans increasing bacterial evolvability?

Gillings, MR; Stokes, HW

Are humans increasing bacterial evolvability?

Gillings, MR Stokes, HW

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 2012, 27 (6), pp. 346 - 352
Issue Date:: 2012-06-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Gillings, MR	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Stokes, HW	en_US
dc.date.available	2012-02-28	en_US
dc.date.issued	2012-06-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 2012, 27 (6), pp. 346 - 352	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0169-5347	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/18080
dc.description.abstract	Attempts to control bacterial pathogens have led to an increase in antibiotic-resistant cells and the genetic elements that confer resistance phenotypes. These cells and genes are disseminated simultaneously with the original selective agents via human waste streams. This might lead to a second, unintended consequence of antimicrobial therapy; an increase in the evolvability of all bacterial cells. The genetic variation upon which natural selection acts is a consequence of mutation, recombination and lateral gene transfer (LGT). These processes are under selection, balancing genomic integrity against the advantages accrued by genetic innovation. Saturation of the environment with selective agents might cause directional selection for higher rates of mutation, recombination and LGT, producing unpredictable consequences for humans and the biosphere. © 2012 .	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Trends in Ecology and Evolution	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.tree.2012.02.006	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Evolutionary Biology	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Bacteria	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	DNA, Bacterial	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Anti-Bacterial Agents	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Environmental Pollution	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Evolution, Molecular	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Drug Resistance, Bacterial	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Gene Transfer, Horizontal	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Phenotype	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Mutation	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Genome	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Genetic Variation	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Selection, Genetic	en_US
dc.title	Are humans increasing bacterial evolvability?	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	6	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	27	en_US
utslib.for	0605 Microbiology	en_US
utslib.for	05 Environmental Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	06 Biological Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	6	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	27	en_US

Abstract:

Attempts to control bacterial pathogens have led to an increase in antibiotic-resistant cells and the genetic elements that confer resistance phenotypes. These cells and genes are disseminated simultaneously with the original selective agents via human waste streams. This might lead to a second, unintended consequence of antimicrobial therapy; an increase in the evolvability of all bacterial cells. The genetic variation upon which natural selection acts is a consequence of mutation, recombination and lateral gene transfer (LGT). These processes are under selection, balancing genomic integrity against the advantages accrued by genetic innovation. Saturation of the environment with selective agents might cause directional selection for higher rates of mutation, recombination and LGT, producing unpredictable consequences for humans and the biosphere. © 2012 .

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/18080