Induction of competence for genetic transformation by antibiotics: convergent evolution of stress responses in distant bacterial species lacking SOS?

► SOS-inducing antibiotics induce natural competence in non-SOS bacterial species. ► Competence regulatory circuits are diverse, yet they are induced by antibiotics. ► SOS substitution by competence could thus be common among bacterial pathogens. ► Natural transformation promotes genetic diversification in some species. ► Antibiotics could thus accelerate evolution of virulence in transformable species.