Plasmids are small, circular pieces of DNA found in bacteria. They are different from the DNA that is packed in the bacteria’s chromosomes.
These little circles of DNA are very important because they help bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. This means bacteria can quickly change to survive in their environments. Here’s how plasmids work:
What Plasmids Do: Plasmids can carry genes that give bacteria special powers. Some of these genes help bacteria resist antibiotics. They can create proteins that break down antibiotics or help push them out of the bacterial cell.
Sharing Genes: Bacteria can share plasmids with each other, even if they belong to different types of bacteria. This is called horizontal gene transfer. It can happen in several ways, like when one bacterium connects to another, takes in DNA from its surroundings, or gets DNA through viruses. For example, a bacterium that is resistant to antibiotics can share its plasmid with another bacterium that is not resistant, turning it into a superbug.
Examples in Real Life: A common bacterium known as E. coli is often involved in infections that antibiotics can’t easily treat, mostly because of plasmids. Another example is Staphylococcus aureus, which can pick up plasmids that make it resistant to methicillin, a strong antibiotic.
In short, plasmids play an important role in helping bacteria survive, and they are a big part of the problem with antibiotic resistance. Learning more about how they work can help us find better ways to fight against antibiotic resistance in healthcare.
Plasmids are small, circular pieces of DNA found in bacteria. They are different from the DNA that is packed in the bacteria’s chromosomes.
These little circles of DNA are very important because they help bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. This means bacteria can quickly change to survive in their environments. Here’s how plasmids work:
What Plasmids Do: Plasmids can carry genes that give bacteria special powers. Some of these genes help bacteria resist antibiotics. They can create proteins that break down antibiotics or help push them out of the bacterial cell.
Sharing Genes: Bacteria can share plasmids with each other, even if they belong to different types of bacteria. This is called horizontal gene transfer. It can happen in several ways, like when one bacterium connects to another, takes in DNA from its surroundings, or gets DNA through viruses. For example, a bacterium that is resistant to antibiotics can share its plasmid with another bacterium that is not resistant, turning it into a superbug.
Examples in Real Life: A common bacterium known as E. coli is often involved in infections that antibiotics can’t easily treat, mostly because of plasmids. Another example is Staphylococcus aureus, which can pick up plasmids that make it resistant to methicillin, a strong antibiotic.
In short, plasmids play an important role in helping bacteria survive, and they are a big part of the problem with antibiotic resistance. Learning more about how they work can help us find better ways to fight against antibiotic resistance in healthcare.