Dr. Rosie Redfield
Departments of Zoology,
Microbiology & Immunology
DNA Uptake by Bacteria
Many bacteria are naturally competent, able to efficiently bind and take up double-stranded DNA fragments. The resulting natural transformation shapes bacterial genomes, transmits antibiotic resistance, and allows escape from immune surveillance. Our research examines the regulation of competence, the mechanism of DNA transport, and the short-term and long-term genomic consequences of the ensuing recombination.