Horizontal gene transfer and ecological interactions jointly control microbiome stability.

ABSTRACT: Genes encoding resistance to stressors, such as antibiotics or environmental pollutants, are widespread across microbiomes, often encoded on mobile genetic elements. Yet, despite their prevalence, the impact of resistance genes and their mobility upon the dynamics of microbial communities remains largely unknown. Here we develop eco-evolutionary theory to explore how resistance genes alter the stability of diverse microbiomes in response to stressors. We show that adding resistance genes to a microbiome typically increases its overall stability, particularly for genes on mobile genetic elements with high transfer rates that efficiently spread resistance throughout the community. However, the impact of resistance genes upon the stability of individual taxa varies dramatically depending upon

SUBMITTER: Coyte KZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9678337 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature