On qualitative properties of replication and transfer of conjugative plasmids encoding antibiotic resistance genes

Abstract In order to advance in the fight against plasmid-mediated resistance, it is necessary to deepen our understanding of the role played by these DNA molecules. In this sense, the achievements obtained from experimentation validated by mathematical models have contributed to the discovery of key properties in the dynamics of antibiotic resistance. In this work, we attempt to characterize some of these properties through nonlinear functional responses of both plasmid replication and plasmid transfer. The results of the mathematical modeling performed here suggest that the emergence of antibiotic resistance in an individual due to the transfer of plasmid-borne resistance genes is directly associated with the production capacity of both recipient and donor bacteria. Whereas for persistence, in addition to bacterial replication, specific properties associated with plasmid replication and transfer are required.