1. MOBILE GENETIC ELEMENTS INVOLVED IN THE HORIZONTAL TRANSFER OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE GENES.
- Author
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Popa, Laura Ioana, Barbu, Ilda Czobor, and Chifiriuc, Mariana Carmen
- Subjects
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MOBILE genetic elements , *DRUG resistance in bacteria , *HORIZONTAL gene transfer , *MULTIDRUG resistance , *BACTERIAL cells - Abstract
Introduction: Antibiotics are one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century, but this came with the great responsibility of maintaining their efficacy. Antibiotic resistance (AR) was noticed as early as the first years of the antibiotic era, the matter becoming increasingly worrying nowadays when one of the biggest threats to the global health system is the perspective of a post-antibiotic era. AR is spreading alarmingly due to the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through horizontal gene transfer, especially under the selective pressure exhibited by the extensive or faulty use of antibiotics. Objectives: In this review, we discuss the mobile genetic elements (MGE) involved in horizontal gene transfer of ARGs and highlight their key role contribution to the dynamics of antibiotic resistance. Methods: A literature survey of the papers indexed in PubMed has been performed, using as key words antibiotic resistance + horizontal gene transfer, antibiotic resistance + mobile genetic elements, horizontal gene transfer + mobile genetic elements. Results: In the presence of antibiotics, MGEs have an increased likelihood to be maintained in the bacterial cells, acquire new ARGs and replicate, leading to a complex resistome and the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotypes. Conclusions: Horizontal gene transfer of antibiotic resistance genes is far from being fully understood and majorly affects the global health system. MGEs play a decisive role in the emergence of antibiotic resistance, therefore, the mobile genetic elements must be thoroughly studied and regarded as potential targets for new antibiotic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018