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Evolution and exchange of plasmids in pathogenic Neisseria.
Yee, Wearn-Xin; Elsener, Tabea; Cehovin, Ana; Maiden, Martin C J; Tang, Christoph M.
Affiliation
  • Yee W-X; Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
  • Elsener T; Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
  • Cehovin A; Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
  • Maiden MCJ; Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
  • Tang CM; Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
mSphere ; 8(6): e0044123, 2023 Dec 20.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37850911
IMPORTANCE: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a major influence in driving the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in many bacteria. A conjugative plasmid which is widespread in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, pConj, prevented the use of tetracycline/doxycycline for treating gonococcal infection. Here, we show that pConj evolved in the related pathogen, Neisseria meningitidis, and has been acquired by the gonococcus from the meningococcus on multiple occasions. Following its initial acquisition, pConj spread to different gonococcal lineages; changes in the plasmid's conjugation machinery associated with another transfer event limit spread in the gonococcal populations. Our findings have important implications for the use of doxycycline to prevent bacterial sexually transmitted disease which is likely to exacerbate the spread of AMR through HGT in pathogenic bacteria.
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Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Gonorrhea / Neisseria meningitidis Limits: Humans Language: En Journal: MSphere Year: 2023 Document type: Article Affiliation country: United kingdom Country of publication: United States

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Gonorrhea / Neisseria meningitidis Limits: Humans Language: En Journal: MSphere Year: 2023 Document type: Article Affiliation country: United kingdom Country of publication: United States