Departamento de Biología Molecular e Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, Universidad de Cantabria-CSIC-IDICAN, C. Herrera Oria s/n, Santander, Spain.
FEMS Microbiol Rev. 2011 Sep;35(5):936-56. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2011.00291.x. Epub 2011 Jul 29.
Plasmids contain a backbone of core genes that remains relatively stable for long evolutionary periods, making sense to speak about plasmid species. The identification and characterization of the core genes of a plasmid species has a special relevance in the study of its epidemiology and modes of transmission. Besides, this knowledge will help to unveil the main routes that genes, for example antibiotic resistance (AbR) genes, use to travel from environmental reservoirs to human pathogens. Global dissemination of multiple antibiotic resistances and virulence traits by plasmids is an increasing threat for the treatment of many bacterial infectious diseases. To follow the dissemination of virulence and AbR genes, we need to identify the causative plasmids and follow their path from reservoirs to pathogens. In this review, we discuss how the existing diversity in plasmid genetic structures gives rise to a large diversity in propagation strategies. We would like to propose that, using an identification methodology based on plasmid mobility types, we can follow the propagation routes of most plasmids in Gammaproteobacteria, as well as their cargo genes, in complex ecosystems. Once the dissemination routes are known, designing antidissemination drugs and testing their efficacy will become feasible. We discuss in this review how the existing diversity in plasmid genetic structures gives rise to a large diversity in propagation strategies. We would like to propose that, by using an identification methodology based on plasmid mobility types, we can follow the propagation routes of most plasmids in ?-proteobacteria, as well as their cargo genes, in complex ecosystems.
质粒包含核心基因的骨架，这些基因在较长的进化时期内相对稳定，因此可以说存在质粒物种。鉴定和描述质粒物种的核心基因在研究其流行病学和传播方式方面具有特殊意义。此外，这方面的知识将有助于揭示基因（例如抗生素耐药性基因）从环境库传播到人类病原体的主要途径。质粒介导的多种抗生素耐药性和毒力特性的全球传播对许多细菌性传染病的治疗构成了日益严重的威胁。为了追踪毒力和抗生素耐药性基因的传播，我们需要确定致病质粒，并追踪它们从库到病原体的路径。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了质粒遗传结构的现有多样性如何导致传播策略的多样性。我们建议，使用基于质粒迁移类型的鉴定方法，我们可以追踪? -变形菌中大多数质粒及其携带基因在复杂生态系统中的传播途径。一旦了解了传播途径，就可以设计抗传播药物并测试其疗效。我们在这篇综述中讨论了质粒遗传结构的现有多样性如何导致传播策略的多样性。我们建议，使用基于质粒迁移类型的鉴定方法，我们可以追踪? -变形菌中大多数质粒及其携带基因在复杂生态系统中的传播途径。
