Most bacteria attach to biotic or abiotic surfaces and are embedded in a complex matrix
which is known as biofilm. Biofilm formation is especially worrisome in clinical settings as it …

The'plasmid paradox'arises because, although plasmids are common features of bacterial
genomes, theoretically they should not exist: rates of conjugation were believed insufficient …

The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among pathogenic bacteria
constitute an accelerating crisis for public health. The selective pressures caused by …

Conjugation is used by bacteria to propagate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the
environment. Central to this process are widespread conjugative F-pili that establish the …

Population growth directly affects the global food supply, demanding a higher production
efficiency without farmland expansion–in view of limited land resources and biodiversity loss …

Tackling the challenge created by antibiotic resistance requires understanding the
mechanisms behind its evolution. Like any evolutionary process, the evolution of …

To increase our basic understanding of the ecology and evolution of conjugative plasmids,
we need reliable estimates of their rate of transfer between bacterial cells. Current assays to …

Plasmids are the main vector by which antibiotic resistance is transferred between bacterial
cells within surface-associated communities. In this study, we ask whether there is an …

Microorganisms are used in a variety of sectors, including food and feed production,
agricultural or environmental applications, and can be optimized for efficacy, safety and …

Antimicrobial-resistance genes (ARGs) are spread among bacteria by horizontal gene
transfer, however, the effect of environmental factors on the dynamics of the ARG in water …