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García-Bayona L, Said N, Coyne MJ, Flores K, Elmekki NM, Sheahan ML, Camacho AG, Hutt K, Yildiz FH, Kovács ÁT, Waldor MK, Comstock LE. A pervasive large conjugative plasmid mediates multispecies biofilm formation in the intestinal microbiota increasing resilience to perturbations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.29.590671. [PMID: 38746121 PMCID: PMC11092513 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.29.590671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Although horizontal gene transfer is pervasive in the intestinal microbiota, we understand only superficially the roles of most exchanged genes and how the mobile repertoire affects community dynamics. Similarly, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the ability of a community to recover after a perturbation. Here, we identified and functionally characterized a large conjugative plasmid that is one of the most frequently transferred elements among Bacteroidales species and is ubiquitous in diverse human populations. This plasmid encodes both an extracellular polysaccharide and fimbriae, which promote the formation of multispecies biofilms in the mammalian gut. We use a hybridization-based approach to visualize biofilms in clarified whole colon tissue with unprecedented 3D spatial resolution. These biofilms increase bacterial survival to common stressors encountered in the gut, increasing strain resiliency, and providing a rationale for the plasmid's recent spread and high worldwide prevalence.
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2
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Yang X, Narvaez-Bravo C, Zhang P. Driving forces shaping the microbial ecology in meat packing plants. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1333696. [PMID: 38322759 PMCID: PMC10844536 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1333696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Meat production is a complex system, continually receiving animals, water, air, and workers, all of which serve as carriers of bacteria. Selective pressures involved in different meat processing stages such as antimicrobial interventions and low temperatures, may promote the accumulation of certain residential microbiota in meat cutting facilities. Bacteria including human pathogens from all these sources can contaminate meat surfaces. While significant advancements have been made in enhancing hygienic standards and pathogen control measures in meat plants, resulting in a notable reduction in STEC recalls and clinical cases, STEC still stands as a predominant contributor to foodborne illnesses associated with beef and occasionally with pork. The second-and third-generation sequencing technology has become popular in microbiota related studies and provided a better image of the microbial community in the meat processing environments. In this article, we reviewed the potential factors influencing the microbial ecology in commercial meat processing facilities and conducted a meta-analysis on the microbiota data published in the last 10 years. In addition, the mechanisms by which bacteria persist in meat production environments have been discussed with a focus on the significant human pathogen E. coli O157:H7 and generic E. coli, an indicator often used for the hygienic condition in food production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianqin Yang
- Lacombe Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe, AB, Canada
| | | | - Peipei Zhang
- Lacombe Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe, AB, Canada
- Department of Animal Sciences, Center for Meat Safety and Quality, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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3
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Element SJ, Moran RA, Beattie E, Hall RJ, van Schaik W, Buckner MM. Growth in a biofilm promotes conjugation of a bla NDM-1-bearing plasmid between Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. mSphere 2023; 8:e0017023. [PMID: 37417759 PMCID: PMC10449501 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00170-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing problem, especially in Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae such as Klebsiella pneumoniae. Horizontal transfer of conjugative plasmids contributes to AMR gene dissemination. Bacteria such as K. pneumoniae commonly exist in biofilms, yet most studies focus on planktonic cultures. Here we studied the transfer of a multi-drug resistance plasmid in planktonic and biofilm populations of K. pneumoniae. We determined plasmid transfer from a clinical isolate, CPE16, which carried four plasmids, including the 119-kbp blaNDM-1-bearing F-type plasmid pCPE16_3, in planktonic and biofilm conditions. We found that transfer frequency of pCPE16_3 in a biofilm was orders-of-magnitude higher than between planktonic cells. In 5/7 sequenced transconjugants (TCs) multiple plasmids had transferred. Plasmid acquisition had no detectable growth impact on TCs. Gene expression of the recipient and a transconjugant was investigated by RNA-sequencing in three lifestyles: planktonic exponential growth, planktonic stationary phase, and biofilm. We found that lifestyle had a substantial impact on chromosomal gene expression, and plasmid carriage affected chromosomal gene expression most in stationary planktonic and biofilm lifestyles. Furthermore, expression of plasmid genes was lifestyle-dependent, with distinct signatures across the three conditions. Our study shows that growth in biofilm greatly increased the risk of conjugative transfer of a carbapenem resistance plasmid in K. pneumoniae without fitness costs and minimal transcriptional rearrangements, thus highlighting the importance of biofilms in the spread of AMR in this opportunistic pathogen. IMPORTANCE Carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae is particularly problematic in hospital settings. Carbapenem resistance genes can transfer between bacteria via plasmid conjugation. Alongside drug resistance, K. pneumoniae can form biofilms on hospital surfaces, at infection sites and on implanted devices. Biofilms are naturally protected and can be inherently more tolerant to antimicrobials than their free-floating counterparts. There have been indications that plasmid transfer may be more likely in biofilm populations, thus creating a conjugation "hotspot". However, there is no clear consensus on the effect of the biofilm lifestyle on plasmid transfer. Therefore, we aimed to explore the transfer of a plasmid in planktonic and biofilm conditions, and the impact of plasmid acquisition on a new bacterial host. Our data show transfer of a resistance plasmid is increased in a biofilm, which may be a significant contributing factor to the rapid dissemination of resistance plasmids in K. pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J. Element
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A. Moran
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
| | - Emilie Beattie
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca J. Hall
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
| | - Willem van Schaik
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle M.C. Buckner
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
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4
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Sánchez-Salazar AM, Taparia T, Olesen AK, Acuña JJ, Sørensen SJ, Jorquera MA. An overview of plasmid transfer in the plant microbiome. Plasmid 2023; 127:102695. [PMID: 37295540 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2023.102695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Plant microbiomes are pivotal for healthy plant physiological development. Microbes live in complex co-association with plant hosts, and interactions within these microbial communities vary with plant genotype, plant compartment, phenological stage, and soil properties, among others. Plant microbiomes also harbor a substantial and diverse pool of mobile genes encoded on plasmids. Several plasmid functions attributed to plant-associated bacteria are relatively poorly understood. Additionally, the role of plasmids in disseminating genetic traits within plant compartments is not well known. Here, we present the current knowledge on the occurrence, diversity, function, and transfer of plasmids in plant microbiomes, emphasizing the factors that could modulate gene transfer in-planta. We also describe the role of the plant microbiome as a plasmid reservoir and the dissemination of its genetic material. We include a brief discussion on the current methodological limitations in studying plasmid transfer within plant microbiomes. This information could be useful to elucidate the dynamics of the bacterial gene pools, the adaptations different organisms have made, and variations in bacterial populations that might have never been described before, particularly in complex microbial communities associated with plants in natural and anthropogenic impacted environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela M Sánchez-Salazar
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias de Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencia, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar, 01145 Temuco, Chile; Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana Aplicada, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar, 01145 Temuco, Chile
| | - Tanvi Taparia
- Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15 Bldg 1, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Asmus K Olesen
- Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15 Bldg 1, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jacquelinne J Acuña
- Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana Aplicada, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar, 01145 Temuco, Chile; The Network for Extreme Environment Research (NEXER), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar, 01145 Temuco, Chile
| | - Søren J Sørensen
- Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15 Bldg 1, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Milko A Jorquera
- Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana Aplicada, Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar, 01145 Temuco, Chile; The Network for Extreme Environment Research (NEXER), Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar, 01145 Temuco, Chile.
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5
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Dewan I, Uecker H. A mathematician's guide to plasmids: an introduction to plasmid biology for modellers. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169:001362. [PMID: 37505810 PMCID: PMC10433428 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Plasmids, extrachromosomal DNA molecules commonly found in bacterial and archaeal cells, play an important role in bacterial genetics and evolution. Our understanding of plasmid biology has been furthered greatly by the development of mathematical models, and there are many questions about plasmids that models would be useful in answering. In this review, we present an introductory, yet comprehensive, overview of the biology of plasmids suitable for modellers unfamiliar with plasmids who want to get up to speed and to begin working on plasmid-related models. In addition to reviewing the diversity of plasmids and the genes they carry, their key physiological functions, and interactions between plasmid and host, we also highlight selected plasmid topics that may be of particular interest to modellers and areas where there is a particular need for theoretical development. The world of plasmids holds a great variety of subjects that will interest mathematical biologists, and introducing new modellers to the subject will help to expand the existing body of plasmid theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Dewan
- Research Group Stochastic Evolutionary Dynamics, Department of Theoretical Biology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
| | - Hildegard Uecker
- Research Group Stochastic Evolutionary Dynamics, Department of Theoretical Biology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
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6
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Koehle AP, Brumwell SL, Seto EP, Lynch AM, Urbaniak C. Microbial applications for sustainable space exploration beyond low Earth orbit. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:47. [PMID: 37344487 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00285-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
With the construction of the International Space Station, humans have been continuously living and working in space for 22 years. Microbial studies in space and other extreme environments on Earth have shown the ability for bacteria and fungi to adapt and change compared to "normal" conditions. Some of these changes, like biofilm formation, can impact astronaut health and spacecraft integrity in a negative way, while others, such as a propensity for plastic degradation, can promote self-sufficiency and sustainability in space. With the next era of space exploration upon us, which will see crewed missions to the Moon and Mars in the next 10 years, incorporating microbiology research into planning, decision-making, and mission design will be paramount to ensuring success of these long-duration missions. These can include astronaut microbiome studies to protect against infections, immune system dysfunction and bone deterioration, or biological in situ resource utilization (bISRU) studies that incorporate microbes to act as radiation shields, create electricity and establish robust plant habitats for fresh food and recycling of waste. In this review, information will be presented on the beneficial use of microbes in bioregenerative life support systems, their applicability to bISRU, and their capability to be genetically engineered for biotechnological space applications. In addition, we discuss the negative effect microbes and microbial communities may have on long-duration space travel and provide mitigation strategies to reduce their impact. Utilizing the benefits of microbes, while understanding their limitations, will help us explore deeper into space and develop sustainable human habitats on the Moon, Mars and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison P Koehle
- Department of Plant Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie L Brumwell
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - Anne M Lynch
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Graduate Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Camilla Urbaniak
- ZIN Technologies Inc, Middleburg Heights, OH, USA.
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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7
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The Impact of Non-Pathogenic Bacteria on the Spread of Virulence and Resistance Genes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031967. [PMID: 36768286 PMCID: PMC9916357 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
This review discusses the fate of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes frequently present among microbiomes. A central concept in epidemiology is the mean number of hosts colonized by one infected host in a population of susceptible hosts: R0. It characterizes the disease's epidemic potential because the pathogen continues its propagation through susceptible hosts if it is above one. R0 is proportional to the average duration of infections, but non-pathogenic microorganisms do not cause host death, and hosts do not need to be rid of them. Therefore, commensal bacteria may colonize hosts for prolonged periods, including those harboring drug resistance or even a few virulence genes. Thus, their R0 is likely to be (much) greater than one, with peculiar consequences for the spread of virulence and resistance genes. For example, computer models that simulate the spread of these genes have shown that their diversities should correlate positively throughout microbiomes. Bioinformatics analysis with real data corroborates this expectation. Those simulations also anticipate that, contrary to the common wisdom, human's microbiomes with a higher diversity of both gene types are the ones that took antibiotics longer ago rather than recently. Here, we discuss the mechanisms and robustness behind these predictions and other public health consequences.
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8
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Domingues CPF, Rebelo JS, Monteiro F, Nogueira T, Dionisio F. Harmful behaviour through plasmid transfer: a successful evolutionary strategy of bacteria harbouring conjugative plasmids. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20200473. [PMID: 34839709 PMCID: PMC8628071 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Conjugative plasmids are extrachromosomal mobile genetic elements pervasive among bacteria. Plasmids' acquisition often lowers cells' growth rate, so their ubiquity has been a matter of debate. Chromosomes occasionally mutate, rendering plasmids cost-free. However, these compensatory mutations typically take hundreds of generations to appear after plasmid arrival. By then, it could be too late to compete with fast-growing plasmid-free cells successfully. Moreover, arriving plasmids would have to wait hundreds of generations for compensatory mutations to appear in the chromosome of their new host. We hypothesize that plasmid-donor cells may use the plasmid as a 'weapon' to compete with plasmid-free cells, particularly in structured environments. Cells already adapted to plasmids may increase their inclusive fitness through plasmid transfer to impose a cost to nearby plasmid-free cells and increase the replication opportunities of nearby relatives. A mathematical model suggests conditions under which the proposed hypothesis works, and computer simulations tested the long-term plasmid maintenance. Our hypothesis explains the maintenance of conjugative plasmids not coding for beneficial genes. This article is part of the theme issue 'The secret lives of microbial mobile genetic elements'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célia P. F. Domingues
- Evolutionary Ecology of Microorganisms Group, cE3c – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal,INIAV - Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, I.P., Oeiras and Vairão, Portugal
| | - João S. Rebelo
- Evolutionary Ecology of Microorganisms Group, cE3c – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Francisca Monteiro
- Evolutionary Ecology of Microorganisms Group, cE3c – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Teresa Nogueira
- Evolutionary Ecology of Microorganisms Group, cE3c – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal,INIAV - Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, I.P., Oeiras and Vairão, Portugal
| | - Francisco Dionisio
- Evolutionary Ecology of Microorganisms Group, cE3c – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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9
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Lee IPA, Eldakar OT, Gogarten JP, Andam CP. Bacterial cooperation through horizontal gene transfer. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 37:223-232. [PMID: 34815098 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cooperation exists across all scales of biological organization, from genetic elements to complex human societies. Bacteria cooperate by secreting molecules that benefit all individuals in the population (i.e., public goods). Genes associated with cooperation can spread among strains through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). We discuss recent findings on how HGT mediated by mobile genetic elements promotes bacterial cooperation, how cooperation in turn can facilitate more frequent HGT, and how the act of HGT itself may be considered as a form of cooperation. We propose that HGT is an important enforcement mechanism in bacterial populations, thus creating a positive feedback loop that further maintains cooperation. To enforce cooperation, HGT serves as a homogenizing force by transferring the cooperative trait, effectively eliminating cheaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaiah Paolo A Lee
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - Omar Tonsi Eldakar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
| | - J Peter Gogarten
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
| | - Cheryl P Andam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA.
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10
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Domingues CPF, Rebelo JS, Pothier J, Monteiro F, Nogueira T, Dionisio F. The Perfect Condition for the Rising of Superbugs: Person-to-Person Contact and Antibiotic Use Are the Key Factors Responsible for the Positive Correlation between Antibiotic Resistance Gene Diversity and Virulence Gene Diversity in Human Metagenomes. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:605. [PMID: 34065307 PMCID: PMC8161104 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10050605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Human metagenomes with a high diversity of virulence genes tend to have a high diversity of antibiotic-resistance genes and vice-versa. To understand this positive correlation, we simulated the transfer of these genes and bacterial pathogens in a community of interacting people that take antibiotics when infected by pathogens. Simulations show that people with higher diversity of virulence and resistance genes took antibiotics long ago, not recently. On the other extreme, we find people with low diversity of both gene types because they took antibiotics recently-while antibiotics select specific resistance genes, they also decrease gene diversity by eliminating bacteria. In general, the diversity of virulence and resistance genes becomes positively correlated whenever the transmission probability between people is higher than the probability of losing resistance genes. The positive correlation holds even under changes of several variables, such as the relative or total diversity of virulence and resistance genes, the contamination probability between individuals, the loss rate of resistance genes, or the social network type. Because the loss rate of resistance genes may be shallow, we conclude that the transmission between people and antibiotic usage are the leading causes for the positive correlation between virulence and antibiotic-resistance genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célia P. F. Domingues
- cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.P.F.D.); (J.S.R.); (F.M.)
- INIAV—National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratory, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - João S. Rebelo
- cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.P.F.D.); (J.S.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Joël Pothier
- Atelier de Bioinformatique, ISYEB, UMR 7205 CNRS MNHN UPMC EPHE, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CP 50, 45 rue Buffon, F-75005 Paris, France;
| | - Francisca Monteiro
- cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.P.F.D.); (J.S.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Teresa Nogueira
- cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.P.F.D.); (J.S.R.); (F.M.)
- INIAV—National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratory, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Francisco Dionisio
- cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.P.F.D.); (J.S.R.); (F.M.)
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11
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Prensky H, Gomez‐Simmonds A, Uhlemann A, Lopatkin AJ. Conjugation dynamics depend on both the plasmid acquisition cost and the fitness cost. Mol Syst Biol 2021; 17:e9913. [PMID: 33646643 PMCID: PMC7919528 DOI: 10.15252/msb.20209913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmid conjugation is a major mechanism responsible for the spread of antibiotic resistance. Plasmid fitness costs are known to impact long-term growth dynamics of microbial populations by providing plasmid-carrying cells a relative (dis)advantage compared to plasmid-free counterparts. Separately, plasmid acquisition introduces an immediate, but transient, metabolic perturbation. However, the impact of these short-term effects on subsequent growth dynamics has not previously been established. Here, we observed that de novo transconjugants grew significantly slower and/or with overall prolonged lag times, compared to lineages that had been replicating for several generations, indicating the presence of a plasmid acquisition cost. These effects were general to diverse incompatibility groups, well-characterized and clinically captured plasmids, Gram-negative recipient strains and species, and experimental conditions. Modeling revealed that both fitness and acquisition costs modulate overall conjugation dynamics, validated with previously published data. These results suggest that the hours immediately following conjugation may play a critical role in both short- and long-term plasmid prevalence. This time frame is particularly relevant to microbiomes with high plasmid/strain diversity considered to be hot spots for conjugation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angela Gomez‐Simmonds
- Division of Infectious DiseasesDepartment of MedicineColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Anne‐Catrin Uhlemann
- Division of Infectious DiseasesDepartment of MedicineColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Allison J Lopatkin
- Department of BiologyBarnard CollegeNew YorkNYUSA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental BiologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
- Data Science InstituteColumbia UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
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12
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Zwanzig M. The ecology of plasmid-coded antibiotic resistance: a basic framework for experimental research and modeling. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 19:586-599. [PMID: 33510864 PMCID: PMC7807137 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Many antibiotic resistance genes are associated with plasmids. The ecological success of these mobile genetic elements within microbial communities depends on varying mechanisms to secure their own propagation, not only on environmental selection. Among the most important are the cost of plasmids and their ability to be transferred to new hosts through mechanisms such as conjugation. These are regulated by dynamic control systems of the conjugation machinery and genetic adaptations that plasmid-host pairs can acquire in coevolution. However, in complex communities, these processes and mechanisms are subject to a variety of interactions with other bacterial species and other plasmid types. This article summarizes basic plasmid properties and ecological principles particularly important for understanding the persistence of plasmid-coded antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments. Through selected examples, it further introduces to the features of different types of simulation models such as systems of ordinary differential equations and individual-based models, which are considered to be important tools to understand these complex systems. This ecological perspective aims to improve the way we study and understand the dynamics, diversity and persistence of plasmids and associated antibiotic resistance genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Zwanzig
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Technische Universität Dresden, Pienner Str. 8, D-01737 Tharandt, Germany
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