Open AccessPotentiation of curing by a broad-host-range self-transmissible vector for displacing resistance plasmids to tackle AMR
Author(s) -
Alessandro Lazdins,
Anand Prakash Maurya,
Claire E. Miller,
Muhammad Kamruzzaman,
Shuting Liu,
Elton R. Stephens,
Georgina S. Lloyd,
Mona Haratianfar,
Melissa Chamberlain,
Anthony S. Haines,
JanUlrich Kreft,
Mark A. Webber,
Jonathan R. Iredell,
Christopher M. Thomas
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0225202
Subject(s) - plasmid , biology , genetics , gene , vector (molecular biology) , context (archaeology) , microbiology and biotechnology , recombinant dna , paleontology
Plasmids are potent vehicles for spread of antibiotic resistance genes in bacterial populations and often persist in the absence of selection due to efficient maintenance mechanisms. We previously constructed non-conjugative high copy number plasmid vectors that efficiently displace stable plasmids from enteric bacteria in a laboratory context by blocking their replication and neutralising their addiction systems. Here we assess a low copy number broad-host-range self-transmissible IncP-1 plasmid as a vector for such curing cassettes to displace IncF and IncK plasmids. The wild type plasmid carrying the curing cassette displaces target plasmids poorly but derivatives with deletions near the IncP-1 replication origin that elevate copy number about two-fold are efficient. Verification of this in mini IncP-1 plasmids showed that elevated copy number was not sufficient and that the parB gene, korB , that is central to its partitioning and gene control system, also needs to be included. The resulting vector can displace target plasmids from a laboratory population without selection and demonstrated activity in a mouse model although spread is less efficient and requires additional selection pressure.