Competition between plasmid-bearing and plasmid-free organisms in the host: population dynamics and antibiotic resistance.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the effects of antibiotic exposure on bacterial antibiotic resistance.


METHODS
A competitive population dynamics model for plasmid-bearing organisms and plasmid-free organisms in the host was established. The Poincaré-Bendixson theorem was used for analysis.


RESULTS
All possible results of the competition dependent on biologically meaningful parameters were obtained, which can be classified into eight categories. With the outcomes of the plasmid model, we discussed the sterilizing effect if an antibiotic was added to the host.


CONCLUSIONS
When antibiotic-resistant bacteria existed in a host, a higher dosage of antibiotics was needed with an increased risk of survival of plasmid-bearing organisms and greater danger of resistance to antibiotics.
Song
Hui-Xing
HX
School of Life Science, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, PR China. yy.peng@263.net
Peng
Yuan-Ying
YY
Zhu
Zhi-Fu
ZF
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001424:Bacterial Infections; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins