Antibiotic resistance begets more resistance: chromosomal resistance mutations mitigate fitness costs conferred by multi-resistant clinical plasmids.

ABSTRACT: Plasmids are the primary vectors of horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes among bacteria. Previous studies have shown that the spread and maintenance of plasmids among bacterial populations depend on the genetic makeup of both the plasmid and the host bacterium. Antibiotic resistance can also be acquired through mutations in the bacterial chromosome, which not only confer resistance but also result in changes in bacterial physiology and typically a reduction in fitness. However, it is unclear whether chromosomal resistance mutations affect the interaction between plasmids and the host bacteria. To address this question, we introduced 13 clinical plasmids into a susceptible Escherichia coli strain and three different congenic mutants that were resistant to nitrofurantoin

SUBMITTER: Nair RR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11064507 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature