Smyth, Cian, Leigh, Robert J., Do, Thi Thuy and Walsh, Fiona (2025) Communities of plasmids as strategies for antimicrobial resistance gene survival in wastewater treatment plant effluent. npj Antimicrobials and Resistance, 3 (1). ISSN 2731-8745
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Abstract
Plasmids facilitate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene spread via horizontal gene transfer, yet the
mobility of genes in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) resistomes remains unclear. We sequenced
173 circularised plasmids transferred from WWTP effluent into Escherichia coli and characterised their
genetic content. Multiple multidrug-resistant plasmids were identified, with a significant number of
mega-plasmids (>100 kb). Almost all plasmids detected existed with other plasmids i.e. as
communities rather than lone entities. These plasmid communities enabled non-AMR plasmids to
survive antimicrobial selection by co-existing with resistant partners. Our data demonstrates the
highly variable nature of plasmids in addition to their capacity to carry mobile elements and genes
within these highly variable regions. The impact of these variations on plasmid ecology, persistence,
and transfer requires further investigation. Plasmid communities warrant exploration across biomes,
as many non-resistant plasmids escape elimination by co-existing with AMR plasmids in the same
bacterial host, representing a previously unrecognised survival strategy.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Communities of plasmids; strategies; antimicrobial resistance gene survival; wastewater treatment plant effluent; |
| Academic Unit: | Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology |
| Item ID: | 21150 |
| Identification Number: | 10.1038/s44259-025-00151-x |
| Depositing User: | Fiona Walsh |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Jan 2026 14:34 |
| Journal or Publication Title: | npj Antimicrobials and Resistance |
| Publisher: | Nature Research |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Related URLs: | |
| Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
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