Staphylococcus aureus biofilms promote horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance.
Growth as a biofilm facilitates the emergence of antibiotic resistance by mutation in Staphylococcus aureus. Here we demonstrate that biofilm growth of this species also dramatically increases horizontal transfer of plasmid-borne antibiotic resistance determinants by conjugation/mobilization and that standard laboratory practices to induce conjugation in staphylococci achieve optimal efficiency owing to the presence of a biofilm.
Antimicrobial Research Centre and School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Victoria J
VJ
Savage
Ian
I
Chopra
Alex J
AJ
O'Neill
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents