Concentration-Dependent Modulation of Horizontal Gene Transfer by Iron Oxides: Molecular Mechanisms Targeting Plasmids and Recipient Bacteria
Iron oxides are among the most common and active components in soil and groundwater. Iron oxides are widely applied during antibiotic remediation, participate in environmental processes and influence the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), but the mechanisms by which they regulate plasmid- and recipient-mediated horizontal gene transfer remain unclear. We performed transformation experiments with goethite, haematite, and ferrihydrite as typical iron oxides, aiming to elucidate their impacts on horizontal gene transfer and the underlying mechanisms.