Functional enrichment of integrons: Facilitators of antimicrobial resistance and niche adaptation.

ABSTRACT: Integrons are genetic elements, found among diverse bacteria and archaea, that capture and rearrange gene cassettes to rapidly generate genetic diversity and drive adaptation. Despite their broad taxonomic and geographic prevalence, and their role in microbial adaptation, the functions of gene cassettes remain poorly characterized. Here, using a combination of bioinformatic and experimental analyses, we examined the functional diversity of gene cassettes from different environments. We find that cassettes encode diverse antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants, including those conferring resistance to antibiotics currently in the developmental pipeline. Further, we find a subset of cassette functions is universally enriched relative to their broader metagenomes. These are largely involv

SUBMITTER: Ghaly TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10661359 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature