Ecology and evolution of mobile DNA

We are interested in studying how Mobile Genetic Elements (MGEs) - transposons, plasmids, integrons, bacterial viruses and their interactions shape bacterial genomes and communities in nature.

“Life did not take over the world by combat, but by networking” - Lynn Margulis

In the microbial world, much like in human societies, animal behavior, and ecological systems, networking (the exchange of information and or resources) facilitates adaptation, growth, and survival. For example, networking can rapidly spread antibiotic resistance genes to pathogenic microbes leading to clinically untreatable infections. The mechanism responsible for networking in microbes is Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) i.e, intercellular transfer of DNA, and Mobile Genetic Elements or MGEs are its key drivers. In the mobile DNA lab, MGEs - IS elements, transposons, integrons, phages, plasmids and Integrative Conjugative Elements are the model systems. We survey and study the diversity, ecology and evolution of microbial Mobile Genetic Elements with an overarching aim of applying our findings to address real world challenges such as MGE driven spread of antibiotic resistance to infection causing pathogens.