Dossier
Enterococcus faecium
Coverage of Enterococcus faecium in the Nexus archive.
- Transposable elements are driving rapid adaptation of Enterococcus faecium
Transposable elements, specifically ISL3, have rapidly expanded over three decades, reshaping the pathogen Enterococcus faecium and contributing to its growing clinical threat. This adaptation highlights the role of mobile genetic elements in microbial evolution and antibiotic resistance.
- ‘Jumping genes’ help a bacterium that causes hospital infections to adapt quickly
Mobile DNA sequences called transposable elements have proliferated in the genome of Enterococcus faecium over three decades, enabling the bacterium to adapt its metabolism rapidly and contribute to hospital infections. These 'jumping genes' alter gene activity and replication, aiding clinical adaptation.