The Role of Integrative and Conjugative Elements in Antibiotic Resistance Evolution

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as plasmids and integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), are main drivers for the spread of antibiotic resistance (AR). Coevolution between bacteria and plasmids shapes the transfer and stability of plasmids across bacteria. Although ICEs outnumber conjugative plasmids, the dynamics of ICE-bacterium coevolution, ICE transfer rates, and fitness costs are as yet largely unexplored. Conjugative plasmids and ICEs are both transferred by type IV secretion systems, but ICEs are typically immune to segregational loss, suggesting that the evolution of ICE-bacterium associations varies from that of plasmid-bacterium associations. Considering the high abundance of ICEs among bacteria, ICE-bacterium dynamics represent a promising challenge for future research that will enhance our understanding of AR spread in human pathogens.

Automated summary

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) play a key role in the spread of antibiotic resistance, with the coevolution between bacteria and MGEs shaping their transfer and stability. Despite the abundance of ICEs, the dynamics of ICE-bacterium coevolution remain largely unexplored. Both conjugative plasmids and ICEs are transferred via type IV secretion systems, but the immunity to segregational loss in ICEs results in different evolutionary paths for ICE-bacterium associations compared to plasmid-bacterium associations.