Positive selection and compensatory adaptation interact to stabilize non-transmissible plasmids

A. San Millan; R. Peña-Miller; M. Toll-Riera; Z. V. Halbert; A. R. McLean; B. S. Cooper; R. C. MacLean

doi:10.1038/ncomms6208

journal article Open Access Oct 10, 2014

Positive selection and compensatory adaptation interact to stabilize non-transmissible plasmids

A. San Millan R. Peña-Miller M. Toll-Riera Z. V. Halbert A. R. McLean B. S. Cooper R. C. MacLean

Nature Communications Vol. 5 No. 1 · Springer Science and Business Media LLC

View at Publisher Save 10.1038/ncomms6208

Abstract

AbstractPlasmids are important drivers of bacterial evolution, but it is challenging to understand how plasmids persist over the long term because plasmid carriage is costly. Classical models predict that horizontal transfer is necessary for plasmid persistence, but recent work shows that almost half of plasmids are non-transmissible. Here we use a combination of mathematical modelling and experimental evolution to investigate how a costly, non-transmissible plasmid, pNUK73, can be maintained in populations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Compensatory adaptation increases plasmid stability by eliminating the cost of plasmid carriage. However, positive selection for plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance is required to maintain the plasmid by offsetting reductions in plasmid frequency due to segregational loss. Crucially, we show that compensatory adaptation and positive selection reinforce each other’s effects. Our study provides a new understanding of how plasmids persist in bacterial populations, and it helps to explain why resistance can be maintained after antibiotic use is stopped.

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Published: Oct 10, 2014
Vol/Issue: 5(1)
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Cite This Article

A. San Millan, R. Peña-Miller, M. Toll-Riera, et al. (2014). Positive selection and compensatory adaptation interact to stabilize non-transmissible plasmids. Nature Communications, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms6208

Positive selection and compensatory adaptation interact to stabilize non-transmissible plasmids

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