The ubiquity of plasmids in all prokaryotic phyla and habitats and their ability to transfer
between cells marks them as prominent constituents of prokaryotic genomes. Many …

Plasmids are extrachromosomal genetic elements in prokaryotes that have been recognized
as important drivers of microbial ecology and evolution. Plasmids are found in multiple …

Plasmids are autonomously replicating genetic elements that are ubiquitous in all taxa and
habitats where they constitute an integral part of microbial genomes. The stable inheritance …

Plasmid-mediated horizontal gene transfer influences bacterial community structure and
evolution. However, an understanding of the forces which dictate the fate of plasmids in …

The distinction between plasmids and chromosomes has been blurred by the discovery of
megaplasmids and small chromosomes through the use of pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis …

Plasmids mediate the horizontal transmission of genetic information between bacteria,
facilitating their adaptation to multiple environmental conditions. An especially important …

The global dissemination of plasmids encoding antibiotic resistance represents an urgent
issue for human health and society. While the fitness costs for host cells associated with …

Mosaic plasmids, plasmids composed of genetic elements from distinct sources, are
associated with the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. Transposons are considered the …

Plasmids have a key role in bacterial ecology and evolution because they mobilize
accessory genes by horizontal gene transfer. However, recent studies have revealed that …

It is difficult to understand plasmid maintenance in the absence of selection and theoretical
models predict the conditions for plasmid persistence to be limited. Plasmid-associated …