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Gonorrhea split (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) has included a fragment of the human genome into its genome, informs the journal mBio.
Gonorrhea split has taken over human genes
According to the discoverers – scientists from Northwestern University (USA) – gene transfer from human to pathogenic bacteria sheds new light on evolution and disease.
Never seen before direct transfer of DNA from humans to bacteria. It seems that this phenomenon took place relatively recently, because the characteristic sequence occurs in 11% of strains of bacteria, and Neisseria meningitidis (causes meningitis), closely related to gonorrhea, lacks human genes.
Gonorrhea is one of the oldest diseases known and one of the few that occurs only in humans. It is possible that having part of the human genome makes it easier for gonorrhea to adapt to our body.
Previously, gene transfer was observed between different species of bacteria and even between bacteria and yeast cells. However, drawing from the human genome required overcoming many technical difficulties.
The evolutionary success of gonorrhea
Gonorrhea split has achieved great evolutionary success. Every year, approximately 50 million people worldwide are infected with gonorrhea. Most of the infected develop symptoms – especially the characteristic pain in the urethra.
Inflammatory lesions associated with gonorrhea are among the most common causes of infertility in women, and there has been an association between gonorrhea and bladder cancer. In rare cases, bloodstream infections and changes in the joints or heart may occur.
The use of condoms reduces the risk of infection, but with frequent intercourse with random partners, it cannot be completely eliminated. The bacterium has become resistant to many antibiotics.