Suggestions as to quantitative measurements of plasmid loss
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Quantification of Plasmid-Mediated Antibiotic Resistance in an Experimental Evolution Approach
Published on: December 14, 2019
1Department of Microbiology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, DK-2800, Denmark. lb@im.dtu.dk
Abstract:
Suggestions are made for the estimation of plasmid loss rates in bacterial populations that multiply by binary fission. The plasmid loss rate is defined as the probability of a division of a plasmid-carrying individual giving birth to one plasmid-free and one plasmid-carrying daughter cell. The unit of time is consequently the interdivision time for plasmid-carrying individuals. The cautions that have to be taken when the population is cultivated in serial transfer (the usual stability experiment) are discussed.
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