Transposition of Mobile Genetic Elements Driven By Antibiotic Selection

With the fast spread of antibiotic resistance gene via horizontal gene transfer, antibiotic crisis is a worldwide topic. In order to slow down or even reverse the resistance spread, the top priority is to understand the moving pattern of resistance genes. Many resistance genes are related with mobile gene elements (MGE), particularly transposons. Conversely, use of antibiotics can serve as a selection driver to modulate the overall transposition dynamics. Transposon on chromosome can be translocated to intracellular plasmids driven by usage of antibiotics, then spread to the whole microbe community via other mechanisms including conjugation. Here we demonstrated both kinetic model and experimental model to reveal this dynamic. Our proposed research will establish a foundation for rational design of antibiotic treatment strategies to minimize the potential spread of antibiotic resistance genes through transposon dynamic. Our work will also make effort to cure existing transposons with resistance genes in either engineered strains or clinical pathogens.