Donor-recipient interactions drive dynamics of horizontal gene transfer via natural competence

Abstract

ABSTRACTHorizontal gene transfer (HGT) in microbial communities is shaped by a complex web of abiotic and biotic interactions. We investigate the role of donor-recipient interactions on the dynamics of HGT via natural competence in a synthetic community. We show that the donor can play an active role in the gene transfer process that depends on the source of the transferred DNA. The efficiency of plasmid gene transfer depends on the abundance of the donor strain, whereas donor growth impairment augments the efficiency of chromosomal gene transfer. We show that antibiotic stress can either diminish or enhance the efficiency of gene transfer. A dynamic computational model of the system captures the impact of donor growth perturbations on gene transfer efficiency. Our results suggest that anti-HGT strategies targeting the donor strain can lead to opposing effects on the rate of HGT that depend on the microbial interaction network and source of transferred DNA.