Horizontal and Vertical Gene Transfer: The Life History of Pathogens

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Abstract
Viewpoints regarding the evolution of pathogenic bacteria have themselves evolved over the past two decades. Although it is perhaps extreme to suggest different teleological camps have been established, it is fair to say that opinions regarding the evolution of pathogens are varied, and the strength of different points of view have waxed and waned. Initially, many view pathogenic bacteria as being specialized, highly-derived bacteria, which evolved complex and intimate associations with their hosts. In this way, special evolutionary mechanism were perhaps responsible for the origin or persistence of pathogens. Gradually, a viewpoint that every microörganism was adapted to a particular niche was widely accepted, and pathogenicity represented just another bacterial lifestyle; therefore, no special evolutionary forces were at play. The evolution of well-studied pathogens could even be used as models for how other bacteria adapted to their environment. Somewhat surprisingly, perhaps, data collected in the

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