Massive inter-animal horizontal gene transfer contributes to stress tolerance in the fungus gnat Bradysia coprophila

About 9.2% of protein-coding genes in the dark-winged fungus gnat Bradysia coprophila show potential horizontal gene transfer origin, linked to distantly related arthropods sharing its soil niche.

• Why it matters: Animal HGT is usually considered rare and mostly non-animal–to–animal, so this work addresses whether inter-animal gene exchange can be widespread and functionally meaningful in nature.
• What they did: The authors identified putative HTGs in Bradysia coprophila, checked for transcription (~75%) and cross-species sharing, then tested eight HTGs by transgenic expression in Drosophila melanogaster and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
• The result: HTG expression supports likely acquisition of NAD+ biosynthesis and enhanced tolerance to arsenic, cyanide, alkylating agents, and reactive oxygen species, implying inter-animal HGT can generate physiological and ecological novelty.

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