Bacteroides and related species: The keystone taxa of the human gut microbiota.

Microbial communities play a significant role in maintaining ecosystems in a healthy homeostasis. Presently, in the human gastrointestinal tract, there are certain taxonomic groups of importance, though there is no single species that plays a keystone role. Bacteroides spp.

The Application of Transposon Insertion Sequencing in Identifying Essential Genes in B. fragilis.

Essential genes are those that are indispensable for the survival of organism under specific growth conditions. Investigating essential genes in pathogenic bacteria not only helps to understand vital biological networks but also provides novel targets for drug development. Availability of genetic engineering tools and high-throughput sequencing methods has enabled essential genes identification in many pathogenic gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Complete hybrid genome assembly of clinical multidrug-resistant isolates enables comprehensive identification of antimicrobial-resistance genes and plasmids.

constitutes a significant part of the normal human gut microbiota and can also act as an opportunistic pathogen. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the prevalence of AMR genes are increasing, and prediction of antimicrobial susceptibility based on sequence information could support targeted antimicrobial therapy in a clinical setting. Complete identification of insertion sequence (IS) elements carrying promoter sequences upstream of resistance genes is necessary for prediction of AMR.

Transposon Mutagenesis of Bacteroides fragilis.

Bacteroides fragilis is Gram-negative obligatory anaerobe which usually resides in the gut of humans and animals. As an important member of the human gut microbiota it plays a vital role in digestion and absorption of nutrients as well as shaping of host immune system. B.

CRISPR-Cas Systems in , an Important Pathobiont in the Human Gut Microbiome.

While CRISPR-Cas systems have been identified in bacteria from a wide variety of ecological niches, there are no studies to describe CRISPR-Cas elements in species, the most prevalent anaerobic bacteria in the lower intestinal tract. Microbes of the genus make up ~25% of the total gut microbiome. comprises only 2% of the total in the gut, yet causes of >70% of infections.