Evolution of altruists and cheaters in near-isogenic populations of Escherichia coli.
Emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria threatens the continued efficacy of many critical drugs used to treat serious infections. What if such resistant organisms could also act as altruists and "share" their resistance with sensitive cohorts without any actual genetic exchange? We competed resistant strains that differ solely in their ability to secrete a plasmid-encoded beta-lactamase. Sensitive strains were otherwise isogenic with their resistant counterparts and were either plasmid-free or contained a "Dummy" plasmid of roughly the same size as that of the resistance plasmids. Absent antibiotic selection, plasmid-free sensitive strains outperformed the plasmid-bearing strains. In the presence of ampicillin, the outcome depended on whether the resistant strain secreted its beta-lactamase (Altruist) or retained it (Selfish). In the latter case, only resistant cells survived. When beta-lactamase was secreted, some sensitive cohorts were also provided protection, with the largest fitness increase provided to plasmid-free cells. However, some Altruist strains appeared to be at a disadvantage, as a great deal of their enzyme broke off cells. Thus, additional variables must be considered when designing microbial competition experiments.
Clark
Denise R
DR
University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA.
Alton
Tia M
TM
Bajorek
Alexander
A
Holden
Patricia
P
Dugatkin
Lee A
LA
Atlas
Ronald M
RM
Perlin
Michael H
MH
D000667:Ampicillin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000668:Ampicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D000667:Ampicillin; D001618:beta-Lactamases