The Evolution of Plasmids Carrying Multiple Resistance Genes: The Role of Segregation, Transposition, and Homologous Recombination

摘要: We used a mathematical model and experiments with laboratory populations of Escherichia coli to examine conditions for the evolution plasmids conferring resistance multiple antibiotics. In our its experimental analogue, two different genes are initially carried on separate plasmids, recombination between can generate third element that carries both resistances. The environment is such only cells carrying replicate. Our simulations predict under these conditions, single plasmid increase in frequency at rate approximately equal which two-plasmid state decays by vegetative segregation. When segregation high, pace nearly independent rates transfer or whether antibiotic bacteriostatic bacteriocidal. main, results consistent predictions. t...