Unraveling the role of mobile genetic elements in antibiotic resistance transmission and defense strategies in bacteria
Irrational antibiotic use contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, which is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections globally. Molecular research has shown that multiple resistance frequently develops from the uptake of pre-existing resistance genes, which are su...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Systems Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsysb.2025.1557413/full |
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| author | Ranjith Kumavath Puja Gupta Eswar Rao Tatta Mahima S. Mohan Simi Asma Salim Siddhardha Busi |
| author_facet | Ranjith Kumavath Puja Gupta Eswar Rao Tatta Mahima S. Mohan Simi Asma Salim Siddhardha Busi |
| author_sort | Ranjith Kumavath |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Irrational antibiotic use contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, which is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections globally. Molecular research has shown that multiple resistance frequently develops from the uptake of pre-existing resistance genes, which are subsequently intensified under selective pressures. Resistant genes spread and are acquired through mobile genetic elements which are essential for facilitating horizontal gene transfer. MGEs have been identified as carriers of genetic material and are a significant player in evolutionary processes. These include insertion sequences, transposons, integrative and conjugative elements, plasmids, and genomic islands, all of which can transfer between and within DNA molecules. With an emphasis on pathogenic bacteria, this review highlights the salient features of the MGEs that contribute to the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. MGEs carry non-essential genes, including AMR and virulence genes, which can enhance the adaptability and fitness of their bacterial hosts. These elements employ evolutionary strategies to facilitate their replication and dissemination, thus enabling survival without positive selection for the harboring of beneficial genes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a57f435d11d647c9bc0dccbb789ab14a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2674-0702 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Systems Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-a57f435d11d647c9bc0dccbb789ab14a2025-08-20T03:59:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Systems Biology2674-07022025-08-01510.3389/fsysb.2025.15574131557413Unraveling the role of mobile genetic elements in antibiotic resistance transmission and defense strategies in bacteriaRanjith Kumavath0Puja Gupta1Eswar Rao Tatta2Mahima S. Mohan3Simi Asma Salim4Siddhardha Busi5Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, IndiaDepartment of Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, RIMT University, Sirhind, Punjab, IndiaDepartment of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, IndiaDepartment of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, IndiaDepartment of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, IndiaDepartment of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, IndiaIrrational antibiotic use contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, which is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections globally. Molecular research has shown that multiple resistance frequently develops from the uptake of pre-existing resistance genes, which are subsequently intensified under selective pressures. Resistant genes spread and are acquired through mobile genetic elements which are essential for facilitating horizontal gene transfer. MGEs have been identified as carriers of genetic material and are a significant player in evolutionary processes. These include insertion sequences, transposons, integrative and conjugative elements, plasmids, and genomic islands, all of which can transfer between and within DNA molecules. With an emphasis on pathogenic bacteria, this review highlights the salient features of the MGEs that contribute to the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. MGEs carry non-essential genes, including AMR and virulence genes, which can enhance the adaptability and fitness of their bacterial hosts. These elements employ evolutionary strategies to facilitate their replication and dissemination, thus enabling survival without positive selection for the harboring of beneficial genes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsysb.2025.1557413/fullantibiotic resistancemobile genetic elementshorizontal gene transferbioinformaticsprokaryotic defense |
| spellingShingle | Ranjith Kumavath Puja Gupta Eswar Rao Tatta Mahima S. Mohan Simi Asma Salim Siddhardha Busi Unraveling the role of mobile genetic elements in antibiotic resistance transmission and defense strategies in bacteria Frontiers in Systems Biology antibiotic resistance mobile genetic elements horizontal gene transfer bioinformatics prokaryotic defense |
| title | Unraveling the role of mobile genetic elements in antibiotic resistance transmission and defense strategies in bacteria |
| title_full | Unraveling the role of mobile genetic elements in antibiotic resistance transmission and defense strategies in bacteria |
| title_fullStr | Unraveling the role of mobile genetic elements in antibiotic resistance transmission and defense strategies in bacteria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unraveling the role of mobile genetic elements in antibiotic resistance transmission and defense strategies in bacteria |
| title_short | Unraveling the role of mobile genetic elements in antibiotic resistance transmission and defense strategies in bacteria |
| title_sort | unraveling the role of mobile genetic elements in antibiotic resistance transmission and defense strategies in bacteria |
| topic | antibiotic resistance mobile genetic elements horizontal gene transfer bioinformatics prokaryotic defense |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsysb.2025.1557413/full |
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