The'plasmid paradox'arises because, although plasmids are common features of bacterial
genomes, theoretically they should not exist: rates of conjugation were believed insufficient …

Owing to various industrial applications of mercury (Hg), its release into the environment at
high concentration is becoming a great threat to living organisms on a global scale. Human …

INTRODUCTION In nature, bacteria contend with abundant and diverse viruses (phages),
necessitating an extensive repertoire of defense systems. Antiphage systems cluster …

Plasmids are a major driver of horizontal gene transfer in prokaryotes, allowing the sharing
of ecologically important accessory traits between distantly related bacterial taxa. Within …

The functions of many microbial communities exhibit remarkable stability despite fluctuations
in the compositions of these communities. To date, a mechanistic understanding of this …

Information on the co-occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and metal resistance
genes (MRGs) among bacterial communities in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) …

Bacterial conjugation, wherein DNA is transferred between cells through direct contact, is
highly prevalent in complex microbial communities and is responsible for spreading myriad …

Mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal whose emission sources can be both natural and the
result of anthropic activity. Its polluting action on soils, and its ability to spread through the …

Stress tolerant, plant-associated bacteria can play an important role in maintaining a
functional plant microbiome and protecting plants against various (a) biotic stresses …

The rapid spread of antibiotic resistance challenges modern medicine. So far, mechanistic
and quantitative knowledge concerning the spread of resistance genes mainly relies on …