Globally or Regionally Spread of Epidemic Plasmids Carrying Clinically Important Resistance Genes: Epidemiology, Molecular Mechanism, and Drivers

The horizontal transmission of plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance genes is the primary reason for the rapid rise of antibiotic-resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. Some clinically important resistance genes, like blaCTX-M, mcr-1, and blaNDM, are commonly carried by several epidemic plasmids within strains from diverse sources. The epidemic plasmids, such as mcr-1-positive IncI2 and IncX4 plasmids, blaNDM-positive IncX3 plasmids have disseminated globally among bacteria from animals, human being, foods, and environment. Some epidemic plasmids, such as IncI1 plasmids carrying blaCTX-M-1, and IncF33 plasmids carrying blaCTX-M-55/65, fosA3, and/or blaKPC-2 are regionally spread in some European countries and China, respectively. These epidemic plasmids play a vital role in the spread of some clinically important resistance genes. Thus, exploring new control strategies to prevent the transmission of epidemic plasmids will help toslow down the development of antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. However, the epidemiology, molecular mechanism, and the drivers for the widely dissemination of the epidemic plasmids carrying clinically important resistance genes, are poorly understood.

The intention of this Research Topic will be to solicit papers to investigate and discuss the underlying molecular mechanism and drivers for the widespread of the epidemic plasmids, and further explore the epidemiology of epidemic resistance plasmids among bacteria from various sources and regions.

Themes that will be addressed in the Research Topic include but not limited to:

•The global transfer of epidemic plasmids carrying clinically important resistance genes across different countries;
•The regional spread of epidemic plasmids carrying clinically important resistance genes across different ecosystems, including humans, animals, foods, and environments;
•The horizontal spread of epidemic resistance plasmids across different bacterial species;
•The biological characteristics, such as the conjugation ability, stability, and fitness, of epidemic plasmids;
•The underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to the formation and extensive spread of epidemic plasmids;
•The factors or forces driving the spread of the epidemic plasmids;
•Epidemic plasmids and the spread of resistance islands.

This Research Topic welcomes Original Research results related to subtopics described above, as well as any Reviews/Opinions addressing the latest trends relating to epidemic plasmids.