Based on Clinical Trials: Evolution of Plasmid Mediated Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic-resistant infections are a major concern in clinical settings because they significantly raise the risk of death in severely ill patients. Bacterial plasmids drive the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes among bacteria, boosting resistance evolution. Importantly, there are specific relationships between resistance plasmids and bacterial clones that are particularly beneficial in clinical settings. However, the variables that contribute to these organisations' success are uncertain. In vitro research suggests that plasmids cause fitness costs in bacteria, and that these costs are mitigated over time by compensatory mutations. Some researchers propose that plasmid-imposed costs and subsequent compensatory adaptations may dictate the viability of plasmid-bacteria interactions in clinical settings, hence determining antibiotic resistance development in vivo.

Author(s): Manmath Kumar Rout*

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