The Evolution of DNA Uptake Sequences in Neisseria Genus from Chromobacterium- violaceum

In bacteria, transformation is conducted by the uptake of DNA followed by homologous recombination. The purpose of these sequences are to uptake exogenous DNA of closely related family members to keep the homology of alleles and protect themselves against hazardous DNA. (Frye et al. 2013) Not all bacteria have a DNA sequence that can be classified as a DNA uptake sequence, in order for a DUS to characterize as one then it must occur over 100 times its expected value (or ~1% of the genome). (Smith et al. 1999) There are only a few genus’s that have been studied including Neisseriaceae and Haemophilus which, by bioinformatics analyses it is showed that there are eight variant DUS sequences present in Neisseriaceae which are known as DUS dialects which allows for communication between the species. (Frye et al. 2013)