Data from: Chicken gut microbiome members limit the spread of an antimicrobial resistance plasmid in Escherichia coli

Plasmid-mediated antimicrobial resistance is a major contributor to the
spread of resistance genes within bacterial communities. Successful
plasmid spread depends upon a balance between plasmid fitness effects on
the host and rates of horizontal transmission. While these key parameters
are readily quantified in vitro, the influence of interactions with other
microbiome members is largely unknown. Here, we investigated the influence
of three genera of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) derived from the chicken
gastrointestinal microbiome on the spread of an epidemic narrow-range ESBL
resistance plasmid, IncI1 carrying blaCTX-M-1, in mixed cultures of
isogenic Escherichia coli strains. Secreted products of LAB decreased E.
coli growth rates in a genus-specific manner but did not affect plasmid
transfer rates. Importantly, we quantified plasmid transfer rates by
controlling for density-dependent mating opportunities. Parametrization of
a mathematical model with our in vitro estimates illustrated that small
fitness costs of plasmid carriage may tip the balance towards plasmid loss
under growth conditions in the gastrointestinal tract. This work shows
that microbial interactions can influence plasmid success and provides an
experimental-theoretical framework for further study of plasmid transfer
in a microbiome context.