Invasive properties of bacterial pathogens can boost plasmid spread in the gut

  09 December 2021

Plasmids can encode antibiotic resistance genes. In a recent paper in eLife, Erik Bakkeren, Wolf-​Dietrich Hardt, and colleagues (IMB) show that the gut pathogen Salmonella Typhimurium can collect plasmids from other gut bacteria and store them in tissues, creating a plasmid “record” within hosts.

Antibiotic resistance is a threat. Through conjugation, resistance plasmids can spread rapidly. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S.Tm) is a gut pathogen that can invade and hide within gut tissues for long times. Previous work established that these “persisters” can store resistance plasmids and promote their spread. However, how such tissue-​lodged reservoirs of plasmid-​bearing cells are formed had remained unclear.

 

Further reading: ETH Zurich
Author(s): ETH Zurich
Smart Innovations  
Back

OUR UNDERWRITERS

Unrestricted financial support by:

LifeArc

Antimicrobial Resistance Fighter Coalition

Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS & ASSOCIATIONS





Ambassador Network

Join the AMR Insights Ambassador Network today!

Connect to over 550 AMR professionals and students in 60 countries!

More information
What is going on with AMR?
Stay tuned with remarkable global AMR news and developments!
Popup Plugin