Dataset Information
The evolution of plasmid-carried antibiotic resistance.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Antibiotic resistance represents a significant public health problem. When resistance genes are mobile, being carried on plasmids or phages, their spread can be greatly accelerated. Plasmids in particular have been implicated in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. However, the selective pressures which favour plasmid-carried resistance genes have not been fully established. Here we address this issue with mathematical models of plasmid dynamics in response to different antibiotic treatment regimes.Results
We show that transmission of plasmids is a key factor influencing plasmid-borne antibiotic resistance, but the dosage and interval between treatments is also important. Our results also hold when plasmids carrying the resistance gene are in competition with other plasmids that do not carry the resistance gene. By altering the interval between antibiotic treatments, and the dosage of antibiotic, we show that different treatment regimes can select for either plasmid-carried, or chromosome-carried, resistance.Conclusions
Our research addresses the effect of environmental variation on the evolution of plasmid-carried antibiotic resistance.
SUBMITTER: Svara F
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3118148 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
The evolution of plasmid-carried antibiotic resistance.
BMC evolutionary biology 20110519
<h4>Background</h4>Antibiotic resistance represents a significant public health problem. When resistance genes are mobile, being carried on plasmids or phages, their spread can be greatly accelerated. Plasmids in particular have been implicated in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. However, the selective pressures which favour plasmid-carried resistance genes have not been fully established. Here we address this issue with mathematical models of plasmid dynamics in response to different ...[more]
