Pathogenic adaptation of intracellular bacteria by rewiring a cis -regulatory input function (original) (raw)

The evolution of bacteria involves not only horizontal gene transfer and mutations but also significant changes in cis-regulatory elements that influence transcriptional outputs. This research highlights how the acquisition of a binding site for the SsrB regulator enables the ancestral srfN gene in Salmonella to adapt and gain fitness advantages in host environments. By mapping and rewiring the cis-regulatory module controlling srfN, this study provides insight into regulatory mutations as a mechanism for pathogen evolution, illustrating their role in enhancing the adaptability and virulence of bacterial pathogens.