Gene-Swapping Plasmids Aid Antibiotic Resistance in Hospitals (2 of 2) (IMAGE)

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Gene-Swapping Plasmids Aid Antibiotic Resistance in Hospitals (2 of 2)

Caption

Antibiotic resistance is becoming a huge medical challenge. Antibiotic resistance is caused by resistance genes carried on plasmids, small circles of DNA separate from the chromosomal DNA. Resistance spreads by horizontal gene transfer, in which plasmid genes from a donor bacterial cell spread to a recipient bacterial cell during cell-to-cell contact. When the DNA that is transferred includes antibiotic-resistance genes, the bacterium receiving this DNA becomes antibiotic-resistant too. This image relates to a paper that appeared in the Sept. 17, 2014, issue of Science Translational Medicine, published by AAAS. The paper, by Dr. S. Conlan at the National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH in Bethesda, Md., and colleagues was titled, 'Single-molecule sequencing to track plasmid diversity of hospital-associated carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.'

Credit

C. Schaffer, <i>Science</i>/AAAS

Usage Restrictions

Please cite the owner of the material when publishing. This material may be freely used by reporters as part of news coverage, with proper attribution. Non-reporters must contact <i>Science</i> for permission.

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.