406: Different DNA Destroys Disease Drivers

This episode: DNA from related species can kill certain pathogens
when they incorporate it into their genome!


Download Episode (7.9 MB, 11.5 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Ungulate tetraparvovirus 3

Paper summary (paywall)

Takeaways
Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria that cause gonorrhea, have
the unusual ability of taking up DNA from their surroundings at
any time and making use of it in their own genome. This helps
them acquire useful traits that help them survive better, such as
antibiotic resistance. But it turns out that the ability is also
a secret weakness!

This study showed that when N. gonorrhoeae takes up DNA from
harmless, commensal species of Neisseria in the body, the DNA is
similar enough to be incorporated into the genome but different
enough that it kills the pathogen. This effect also occurs with a
serious pathogen in the same genus, N. meningitidis.

Journal Paper:
Kim WJ, Higashi D, Goytia M, Rendón MA, Pilligua-Lucas M,
Bronnimann M, McLean JA, Duncan J, Trees D, Jerse AE, So M. 2019.
Commensal Neisseria Kill Neisseria gonorrhoeae through a
DNA-Dependent Mechanism. Cell Host Microbe 26:228-239.e8.


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