Ecology determines how low antibiotic concentration impacts community composition and horizontal transfer of resistance genes.

ABSTRACT: Low concentrations of antibiotics have numerous effects on bacteria. However, it is unknown whether ecological factors such as trophic interactions and spatial structuring influence the effects of low concentrations of antibiotics on multispecies microbial communities. Here, we address this question by investigating the effects of low antibiotic concentration on community composition and horizontal transfer of an antibiotic resistance plasmid in a 62-strain bacterial community in response to manipulation of the spatial environment and presence of predation. The strong effects of antibiotic treatment on community composition depend on the presence of predation and spatial structuring that have strong community effects on their own. Overall, we find plasmid transfer to diverse recipient taxa

SUBMITTER: Cairns J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6123812 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature