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Sagrillo C, Changey F, Bellanger X. Bacteriophages vehiculate a high amount of antibiotic resistance determinants of bacterial origin in the Orne River ecosystem. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:4317-4328. [PMID: 35672875 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Aquatic environments are important dissemination routes of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from and to pathogenic bacteria. Nevertheless, in these complex matrices, identifying and characterizing the driving microbial actors and ARG dissemination mechanisms they are involved in remain difficult. We here explored the distribution/compartmentalization of a panel of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in bacteria and bacteriophages collected in the water, suspended material and surface sediments from the Orne River ecosystem (France). By using a new bacteriophage DNA extraction method, we showed that, when packaging bacterial DNA, bacteriophages rather encapsidate both ARGs and MGEs than 16S rRNA genes, i.e. chromosomal fragments. We also show that the bacteria and bacteriophage capsid contents in ARGs/MGEs were similarly influenced by seasonality but that the distribution of ARGs/MGEs between the river physical compartments (water vs. suspended mater vs. sediment) is more impacted when these markers were carried by bacteria. These demonstrations will likely modify our understanding of the formation and fate of transducing viral particles in the environment. Consequently, they will also likely modify our estimations of the relative frequencies of the different horizontal gene transfer mechanisms in disseminating antibiotic resistance by reinforcing the roles played by environmental bacteriophages and transduction.
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2
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Pallares-Vega R, Macedo G, Brouwer MSM, Hernandez Leal L, van der Maas P, van Loosdrecht MCM, Weissbrodt DG, Heederik D, Mevius D, Schmitt H. Temperature and Nutrient Limitations Decrease Transfer of Conjugative IncP-1 Plasmid pKJK5 to Wild Escherichia coli Strains. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:656250. [PMID: 34349732 PMCID: PMC8326584 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.656250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmid-mediated dissemination of antibiotic resistance among fecal Enterobacteriaceae in natural ecosystems may contribute to the persistence of antibiotic resistance genes in anthropogenically impacted environments. Plasmid transfer frequencies measured under laboratory conditions might lead to overestimation of plasmid transfer potential in natural ecosystems. This study assessed differences in the conjugative transfer of an IncP-1 (pKJK5) plasmid to three natural Escherichia coli strains carrying extended-spectrum beta-lactamases, by filter mating. Matings were performed under optimal laboratory conditions (rich LB medium and 37°C) and environmentally relevant temperatures (25, 15 and 9°C) or nutrient regimes mimicking environmental conditions and limitations (synthetic wastewater and soil extract). Under optimal nutrient conditions and temperature, two recipients yielded high transfer frequencies (5 × 10-1) while the conjugation frequency of the third strain was 1000-fold lower. Decreasing mating temperatures to psychrophilic ranges led to lower transfer frequencies, albeit all three strains conjugated under all the tested temperatures. Low nutritive media caused significant decreases in transconjugants (-3 logs for synthetic wastewater; -6 logs for soil extract), where only one of the strains was able to produce detectable transconjugants. Collectively, this study highlights that despite less-than-optimal conditions, fecal organisms may transfer plasmids in the environment, but the transfer of pKJK5 between microorganisms is limited mainly by low nutrient conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Pallares-Vega
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
- Department Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Gonçalo Macedo
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Michael S. M. Brouwer
- Department of Bacteriology and Epidemiology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, Netherlands
| | - Lucia Hernandez Leal
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
| | - Peter van der Maas
- Van Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
| | | | - David G. Weissbrodt
- Department Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Dick Heederik
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Dik Mevius
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Bacteriology and Epidemiology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, Netherlands
| | - Heike Schmitt
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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3
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Bellanger X, Schneider R, Dezanet C, Arroua B, Balan L, Billard P, Merlin C. Zn 2+ leakage and photo-induced reactive oxidative species do not explain the full toxicity of ZnO core Quantum Dots. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 396:122616. [PMID: 32289641 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs), and among them metal oxides Quantum Dots (QDs), exhibit a multifactorial toxicity combining metal leaching, oxidative stress and possibly direct deleterious interactions, the relative contribution of each varying according to the NP composition and surface chemistry. Their wide use in public and industrial domains requires a good understanding and even a good control of their toxicity. To address this question, we engineered ZnO QDs with different surface chemistries, expecting that they would exhibit different photo-induced reactivities and possibly different levels of interaction with biological materials. No photo-induced toxicity could be detected on whole bacterial cell toxicity assays, indicating that ROS-dependent damages, albeit real, are hidden behind a stronger source of toxicity, which was comforted by the fact that the different ZnO QDs displayed the same level of cell toxicity. However, using in vitro DNA damage assays based on quantitative PCR, significant photo-induced reactivity could be measured precisely, showing that different NPs exhibiting similar inhibitory effects on whole bacteria could differ dramatically in terms of ROS-generated damages on biomolecules. We propose that direct interactions between NPs and bacterial cell surfaces prime over any kind of intracellular damages to explain the ZnO QDs toxicity on whole bacterial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Boussad Arroua
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LCPME, F-54000, Nancy, France
| | - Lavinia Balan
- Institut de Science des Matériaux de Mulhouse (IS2M), CNRS, UMR 7361, 15 rue Jean Starcky, 68093, Mulhouse, France
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4
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Hall JPJ, Harrison E, Pärnänen K, Virta M, Brockhurst MA. The Impact of Mercury Selection and Conjugative Genetic Elements on Community Structure and Resistance Gene Transfer. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1846. [PMID: 32849443 PMCID: PMC7419628 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Carriage of resistance genes can underpin bacterial survival, and by spreading these genes between species, mobile genetic elements (MGEs) can potentially protect diversity within microbial communities. The spread of MGEs could be affected by environmental factors such as selection for resistance, and biological factors such as plasmid host range, with consequences for individual species and for community structure. Here we cultured a focal bacterial strain, Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25, embedded within a soil microbial community, with and without mercury selection, and with and without mercury resistance plasmids (pQBR57 or pQBR103), to investigate the effects of selection and resistance gene introduction on (1) the focal species; (2) the community as a whole; (3) the spread of the introduced mer resistance operon. We found that P. fluorescens SBW25 only escaped competitive exclusion by other members of community under mercury selection, even when it did not begin with a mercury resistance plasmid, due to its propensity to acquire resistance from the community by horizontal gene transfer. Mercury pollution had a significant effect on community structure, decreasing alpha diversity within communities while increasing beta diversity between communities, a pattern that was not affected by the introduction of mercury resistance plasmids by P. fluorescens SBW25. Nevertheless, the introduced merA gene spread to a phylogenetically diverse set of recipients over the 5 weeks of the experiment, as assessed by epicPCR. Our data demonstrates how the effects of MGEs can be experimentally assessed for individual lineages, the wider community, and for the spread of adaptive traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P J Hall
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Integrative Biology, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.,Department of Biology, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Ellie Harrison
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | | | - Marko Virta
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michael A Brockhurst
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.,Division of Evolution and Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Pallares-Vega R, Blaak H, van der Plaats R, de Roda Husman AM, Hernandez Leal L, van Loosdrecht MCM, Weissbrodt DG, Schmitt H. Determinants of presence and removal of antibiotic resistance genes during WWTP treatment: A cross-sectional study. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 161:319-328. [PMID: 31203037 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.05.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), linking human fecal residues and the environment, are considered as hotspots for the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In order to evaluate the role of WWTPs and underlying operational parameters for the removal of AMR, the presence and removal efficiency of a selected set of 6 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and 2 mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was evaluated by means of qPCR in influent and effluent samples from 62 Dutch WWTPs. The role of possible factors impacting the concentrations of ARGs and MGEs in the influent and their removal was identified through statistical analysis. ARGs and the class I integron-integrase gene (intI1) were, on average, removed to a similar extent (1.76 log reduction) or better (+0.30-1.90 logs) than the total bacteria (measured as 16S rRNA gene). In contrast, broad-host-range plasmids (IncP-1) had a significantly increased (p < 0.001) relative abundance after treatment. The presence of healthcare institutions in the area served did only slightly increase the concentrations of ARGs or MGEs in influent. From the extended panel of operational parameters, rainfall, increasing the hydraulic load of the plant, most significantly (p < 0.05) affected the treatment efficiency by decreasing it on average -0.38 logs per time the flow exceeded the average daily flow. Our results suggest that overall, WWTP treatments do not favor the proliferation of the assessed resistance genes but might increase the relative abundance of broad-host-range plasmids of the IncP-1 type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Pallares-Vega
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Hetty Blaak
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Ana M de Roda Husman
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lucia Hernandez Leal
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | | | - David G Weissbrodt
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Heike Schmitt
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
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6
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Collateral effects of microplastic pollution on aquatic microorganisms: An ecological perspective. Trends Analyt Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2018.11.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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De la Cruz Barrón M, Merlin C, Guilloteau H, Montargès-Pelletier E, Bellanger X. Suspended Materials in River Waters Differentially Enrich Class 1 Integron- and IncP-1 Plasmid-Carrying Bacteria in Sediments. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1443. [PMID: 30013540 PMCID: PMC6036612 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aquatic ecosystems are frequently considered as the final receiving environments of anthropogenic pollutants such as pharmaceutical residues or antibiotic resistant bacteria, and as a consequence tend to form reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes. Considering the global threat posed by the antibiotic resistance, the mechanisms involved in both the formation of such reservoirs and their remobilization are a concern of prime importance. Antibiotic resistance genes are strongly associated with mobile genetic elements that are directly involved in their dissemination. Most mobile genetic element-mediated gene transfers involve replicative mechanisms and, as such, localized gene transfers should participate in the local increase in resistance gene abundance. Additionally, the carriage of conjugative mobile elements encoding cell appendages acting as adhesins has already been demonstrated to increase biofilm-forming capability of bacteria and, therefore, should also contribute to their selective enrichment on surfaces. In the present study, we investigated the occurrence of two families of mobile genetic elements, IncP-1 plasmids and class 1 integrons, in the water column and bank sediments of the Orne River, in France. We show that these mobile elements, especially IncP-1 plasmids, are enriched in the bacteria attached on the suspended matters in the river waters, and that a similar abundance is found in freshly deposited sediments. Using the IncP-1 plasmid pB10 as a model, in vitro experiments demonstrated that local enrichment of plasmid-bearing bacteria on artificial surfaces mainly resulted from an increase in bacterial adhesion properties conferred by the plasmid rather than an improved dissemination frequency of the plasmid between surface-attached bacteria. We propose plasmid-mediated adhesion to particles to be one of the main contributors in the formation of mobile genetic element-reservoirs in sediments, with adhesion to suspended matter working as a selective enrichment process of antibiotic resistant genes and bacteria.
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Hall JPJ, Brockhurst MA, Harrison E. Sampling the mobile gene pool: innovation via horizontal gene transfer in bacteria. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 372:rstb.2016.0424. [PMID: 29061896 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In biological systems, evolutionary innovations can spread not only from parent to offspring (i.e. vertical transmission), but also 'horizontally' between individuals, who may or may not be related. Nowhere is this more apparent than in bacteria, where novel ecological traits can spread rapidly within and between species through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). This important evolutionary process is predominantly a by-product of the infectious spread of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). We will discuss the ecological conditions that favour the spread of traits by HGT, the evolutionary and social consequences of sharing traits, and how HGT is shaped by inherent conflicts between bacteria and MGEs.This article is part of the themed issue 'Process and pattern in innovations from cells to societies'.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P J Hall
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Alfred Denny Building, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Michael A Brockhurst
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Alfred Denny Building, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Ellie Harrison
- P3 Institute, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Arthur Willis Environment Centre, University of Sheffield, 1 Maxfield Avenue, Sheffield S10 1AE, UK
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Cairns J, Ruokolainen L, Hultman J, Tamminen M, Virta M, Hiltunen T. Ecology determines how low antibiotic concentration impacts community composition and horizontal transfer of resistance genes. Commun Biol 2018; 1:35. [PMID: 30271921 PMCID: PMC6123812 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0041-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
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. Plasmid transfer is likely to occur to abundant strains, occurs to a higher number of strains in the presence of antibiotic, and also occurs to low-abundance strains in the presence of spatial structures. These results fill knowledge gaps concerning the effects of low antibiotic concentrations in complex ecological settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Cairns
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lasse Ruokolainen
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jenni Hultman
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Manu Tamminen
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Dubendorf, 8600, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marko Virta
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Teppo Hiltunen
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
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10
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Lopatkin AJ, Sysoeva TA, You L. Dissecting the effects of antibiotics on horizontal gene transfer: Analysis suggests a critical role of selection dynamics. Bioessays 2016; 38:1283-1292. [PMID: 27699821 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201600133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a major mechanism responsible for the spread of antibiotic resistance. Conversely, it is often assumed that antibiotics promote HGT. Careful dissection of the literature, however, suggests a lack of conclusive evidence supporting this notion in general. This is largely due to the lack of well-defined quantitative experiments to address this question in an unambiguous manner. In this review, we discuss the extent to which HGT is responsible for the spread of antibiotic resistance and examine what is known about the effect of antibiotics on the HGT dynamics. We focus on conjugation, which is the dominant mode of HGT responsible for spreading antibiotic resistance on the global scale. Our analysis reveals a need to design experiments to quantify HGT in such a way to facilitate rigorous data interpretation. Such measurements are critical for developing novel strategies to combat resistance spread through HGT.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tatyana A Sysoeva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lingchong You
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.,Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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11
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Source-sink plasmid transfer dynamics maintain gene mobility in soil bacterial communities. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:8260-5. [PMID: 27385827 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1600974113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer is a fundamental process in bacterial evolution that can accelerate adaptation via the sharing of genes between lineages. Conjugative plasmids are the principal genetic elements mediating the horizontal transfer of genes, both within and between bacterial species. In some species, plasmids are unstable and likely to be lost through purifying selection, but when alternative hosts are available, interspecific plasmid transfer could counteract this and maintain access to plasmid-borne genes. To investigate the evolutionary importance of alternative hosts to plasmid population dynamics in an ecologically relevant environment, we established simple soil microcosm communities comprising two species of common soil bacteria, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas putida, and a mercury resistance (Hg(R)) plasmid, pQBR57, both with and without positive selection [i.e., addition of Hg(II)]. In single-species populations, plasmid stability varied between species: although pQBR57 survived both with and without positive selection in P. fluorescens, it was lost or replaced by nontransferable Hg(R) captured to the chromosome in P. putida A simple mathematical model suggests these differences were likely due to pQBR57's lower intraspecific conjugation rate in P. putida By contrast, in two-species communities, both models and experiments show that interspecific conjugation from P. fluorescens allowed pQBR57 to persist in P. putida via source-sink transfer dynamics. Moreover, the replacement of pQBR57 by nontransferable chromosomal Hg(R) in P. putida was slowed in coculture. Interspecific transfer allows plasmid survival in host species unable to sustain the plasmid in monoculture, promoting community-wide access to the plasmid-borne accessory gene pool and thus potentiating future evolvability.
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12
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Diversity and Global Distribution of IncL/M Plasmids Enabling Horizontal Dissemination of β-Lactam Resistance Genes among the Enterobacteriaceae. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:414681. [PMID: 26236726 PMCID: PMC4510254 DOI: 10.1155/2015/414681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance determinants are frequently associated with plasmids and other mobile genetic elements, which simplifies their horizontal transmission. Several groups of plasmids (including replicons of the IncL/M incompatibility group) were found to play an important role in the dissemination of resistance genes encoding β-lactamases. The IncL/M plasmids are large, broad host range, and self-transmissible replicons. We have identified and characterized two novel members of this group: pARM26 (isolated from bacteria inhabiting activated sludge from a wastewater treatment plant) and pIGT15 (originating from a clinical strain of Escherichia coli). This instigated a detailed comparative analysis of all available sequences of IncL/M plasmids encoding β-lactamases. The core genome of these plasmids is comprised of 20 genes with conserved synteny. Phylogenetic analyses of these core genes allowed clustering of the plasmids into four separate groups, which reflect their antibiotic resistance profiles. Examination of the biogeography of the IncL/M plasmids revealed that they are most frequently found in bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae originating from the Mediterranean region and Western Europe and that they are able to persist in various ecological niches even in the absence of direct antibiotic selection pressure.
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