ArticlePloS one2025
Investigation of mobile genetic elements and their association with antibiotic resistance genes in clinical pathogens worldwide.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed.
- The Role of Migratory Birds in the Dissemination of Antimicrobial Resistance: A One Health Perspective.Veterinary sciences · 2026Article
- Viral Lifecycle Dynamics and Spatial Structure Explain Why Accessory Genes Are Associated With Temperate Phages.Genome biology and evolution · 2026Article
- Beyond Infection-Indoor Airborne Pathogens as Contributors to Respiratory Inflammation and Immune Dysregulation: A Narrative Review.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Recombination, mobile genetic elements, and genetic transfer contribute to the adaptation of Streptococcus uberis causing mastitis.Veterinary research · 2026Article
- Comparison of Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing protocols using R9.4.1 and R10.4.1 flow cells under 20-hour and 48-hour conditions for genotyping methicillin methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).Molecular biology reports · 2026Article
- Mobile Genetic Elements as Central Drivers of Antimicrobial Resistance: Molecular Mechanisms, Evolutionary Ecology, One Health Implications and Control Strategies.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Genome-based characterization of AHPND and non-AHPNDFrontiers in microbiology · 2026Article
- High clonal diversity, resistome, and virulome ofFrontiers in microbiology · 2026Article
- Transient restructuring of the active oral resistome during probioticJournal of oral microbiology · 2026Article
- Sepsis secondary to postoperative Enterococcus gallinarum infection in a patient with rectal cancer: A case report.Medicine · 2025Article
- Comparative Analyses Suggest Genome Stability and Plasticity inInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
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74 authors.
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Abstract
objectivesAntimicrobial-resistant bacteria are a major global health threat. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) have been crucial for spreading resistance to new bacterial species, including human pathogens. Understanding how MGEs promote resistance could be essential for prevention. Here we present an investigation of MGEs and their association with resistance genes in pathogenic bacteria collected from 59 diagnostic units during 2020, representing a snapshot of clinical infections from 35 counties worldwide.
methodsWe analysed 3,095 whole-genome sequenced clinical bacterial isolates from over 100 species to study the relationship between resistance genes and MGEs. The mobiliome of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were further examined for geographic differences, as these species were prevalent in all countries. Genes potentially mobilized by MGEs were identified by finding DNA segments containing MGEs and ARGs preserved in multiple species. Network analysis was used to investigate potential MGE interactions, host range, and transmission pathways.
resultsThe prevalence and diversity of MGEs and resistance genes varied among species, with E. coli and S. aureus carrying more diverse elements. MGE composition differed between bacterial lineages, indicating strong vertical inheritance. 102 MGEs associated with resistance were found in multiple species, and four of these elements seemed to be highly transmissible as they were found in different phyla. We identified 21 genomic regions containing resistance genes potentially mobilized by MGEs, highlighting their importance in transmitting genes to clinically significant bacteria.
conclusionResistance genes are spread through various MGEs, including plasmids and transposons. Our findings suggest that multiple factors influence MGE prevalence and their transposability, thereby shaping the MGE population and transmission pathways. Some MGEs have a wider host range, which could make them more important for mobilizing genes. We also identified 103 resistance genes potentially mobilised by MGEs, which could increase their transmissibility to unrelated bacteria.
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