Plasmids are key drivers of bacterial evolution by transferring genes between cells via
conjugation. Yet, half of the plasmids lack all protein coding genes for this process. We …

Plasmids can be transferred between cells by conjugation, thereby driving bacterial
evolution by horizontal gene transfer. Yet, we ignore the molecular mechanisms of transfer …

Antimicrobial resistance poses a great danger to humanity, in part due to the widespread
horizontal gene transfer of plasmids via conjugation. Modeling of plasmid transfer is …

Evidence for gene non-functionalization due to mutational processes is found in genomes in
the form of pseudogenes. Pseudogenes are known to be rare in prokaryote chromosomes …

Highlights•Non-conjugative mobile genetic elements are often mobilized by conjugative
elements.•Element carriage of a relaxase gene is not a strict requirement for mobilization.•A …

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria is commonly encoded on conjugative plasmids,
mobile elements which can spread horizontally between hosts. Conjugative transfer …

Plasmid conjugation is a major route for the dissemination of antibiotic resistances and
adaptive genes among bacterial populations. Obtaining precise conjugation rates is thus …

Conjugative plasmids are important drivers of bacterial evolution, but most plasmids lack
genes for conjugation. It is currently not known if the latter can transfer because origins of …

Plasmid fitness is directed by two orthogonal processes—vertical transfer through cell
division and horizontal transfer through conjugation. When considered individually …

Plasmids have a key role in bacterial ecology and evolution because they mobilize
accessory genes by horizontal gene transfer. However, recent studies have revealed that …