Phase_variable_epigentic_control_in_firmicutes. Phase_variable_epigentic_control_in_firmicutes

In 2014 we have published independently that the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae has in its core-genome a phase variable type I restriction modification system which influences via epigenetic control gene expression and virulence (Manso et al., Nat Commun. 2014, 5:5055; Croucher et al., Nat Commun. 2014. 5:5471). The main aim of the project is to translate this biological novelty and unicum into a general paradigm. We now have data showing that many species of bacteria possess at least one of the four principal types of phase variable RM loci (see unpublished data above), indicating the potential for methylation patterns to have a much more widespread and generalizable role in modulating gene expression with potential impacts on fitness or virulence on a broad number of bacterial species of a wide number of genera and phyla. To investigate the global validity of such epigenetic control systems, we will characterise novel phase variable RM loci in Streptococcus suis, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus pneumoniae. This data is part of a pre-publication release. For information on the proper use of pre-publication data shared by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (including details of any publication moratoria), please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/