Conjugative plasmid transfer is limited by prophages but can be overcome by high conjugation rates.

ABSTRACT: Antibiotic resistance spread via plasmids is a serious threat to successfully fight infections and makes understanding plasmid transfer in nature crucial to prevent the rise of antibiotic resistance. Studies addressing the dynamics of plasmid conjugation have yet neglected one omnipresent factor: prophages (viruses integrated into bacterial genomes), whose activation can kill host and surrounding bacterial cells. To investigate the impact of prophages on conjugation, we combined experiments and mathematical modelling. Using Escherichia coli, prophage λ and the multidrug-resistant plasmid RP4 we find that prophages can substantially limit the spread of conjugative plasmids. This inhibitory effect was strongly dependent on environmental conditions and bacterial genetic backgrou

SUBMITTER: Igler C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8628080 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature