Rule-based modelling of conjugative plasmid transfer and incompatibility

Area of Science:

• Bacterial evolution and adaptation
• Computational microbiology
• Population genetics

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance (R) plasmids spread through bacterial populations via conjugation.
• Environmental factors influence plasmid dynamics and bacterial adaptation.
• Understanding plasmid transfer is crucial for predicting bacterial evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model bacterial adaptation and evolution using the COSMIC-rules individual-based model.
• To investigate the virtual transmission of compatible and incompatible R plasmids.
• To analyze the impact of antibiotics on bacterial populations with varying plasmid loads.

Main Methods:

• Utilized COSMIC-rules, an individual-based model, for bacterial simulations.
• Simulated plasmid transfer (conjugation) in environments with varying antibiotic presence.
• Examined three case studies: single R plasmid, two incompatible R plasmids, and two compatible R plasmids.

Main Results:

• R plasmid transfer confers antibiotic resistance to recipient bacteria.
• Incompatible plasmids led to selection for one plasmid type, with only resistant subpopulations surviving antibiotics.
• Compatible plasmids transferred and mixed freely, allowing the entire bacterial population to survive antibiotic exposure.

Conclusions:

• Plasmid compatibility significantly impacts bacterial population survival under antibiotic pressure.
• COSMIC-rules provides a platform for studying bacterial adaptation in response to environmental changes.
• Findings inform models for predicting bacterial behavior in complex ecological scenarios.