Fitness effects of plasmids shape the structure of bacteria-plasmid interaction networks.

ABSTRACT: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes are often carried on broad host range plasmids, and the spread of AMR within microbial communities will therefore depend on the structure of bacteria–plasmid networks. Empirical and theoretical studies of ecological interaction networks suggest that network structure differs between communities that are predominantly mutualistic versus antagonistic, with the former showing more generalized interactions (i.e., species interact with many others to a similar extent). This suggests that mutualistic bacteria–plasmid networks—where antibiotics are present and plasmids carry AMR genes—will be more generalized than antagonistic interactions, where plasmids do not confer benefits to their hosts. We first develop a simple theory to explain this link: fitness bene

SUBMITTER: Newbury A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9295774 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature