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Gene Transfer in Human and Animals Gut

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Gene Transfers and Environment

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Abstract

Genetic exchanges between procaryotes are mediated mainly by extrachromosomal elements, plasmids and phages. Horizontal gene exchanges can occur by conjugation, transduction or transformation. Conjugation and transduction are the must likely mechanisms of transfer between closely related species. Introduction of foreign DNA into phylogenetically remote organisms is at present performed in laboratory by means of transformation or transfection. Within the framework of the genome, movements of certain sequences and DNA rearrangement are due to transposable elements (transposons). These are responsible for plasmid and bacterial evolution. There is evidence that heterogramic genetic exchanges have occurred under natural conditions (Lambert et al. 1985; Trieu-Cuot et al. 1985; Trieu-Cuot and Courvalin 1986; Brisson-Noäl et al. 1988). Genes originating in Gram-positive bacteria are readily expressed and selected in Gram-negative bacteria; the reversal polarity of exchange is performed only in laboratory with vectors. Concerning gene transfer in the gut, one have to consider gene flux between the microorganisms that colonize the gut and between procaryotes and eucaryotes. Rapid degradation of DNA in gut lumen (Maturin and Curtis 1977; Hoskins 1978), suggests that genetic exchange by direct insertion of naked DNA is unlikely between eucaryotic host cells and enteric microflora in gut lumen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité Ecologie et Physiologie du Système Digestif, I.N.R.A.-Centre de Recherche de Jouy, 78 352, Jouy-en-Josas Cedex, France

    Y. Duval-Iflah

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  1. Y. Duval-Iflah
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM Unité 303, 1 Avenue Jean Lorrain, 06300, Nice, France

    Michel J. Gauthier

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© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Duval-Iflah, Y. (1992). Gene Transfer in Human and Animals Gut. In: Gauthier, M.J. (eds) Gene Transfers and Environment. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-77450-8_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-77450-8_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-77452-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-77450-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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