Integrons & antibiotic resistance : modelling of integron evolutionary dynamics - BfH, ENWW

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The integron is a genetic system heavily involved in the spread of antibiotic resistance in bacteria through its ability to acquire and express mobile genetic elements called gene cassettes. While the molecular mechanisms behind this system are well known, a lot remains to be discovered about the underlying dynamics of cassette acquisition and expression, especially when under the selection pressure applied by antibiotics. The aim of this project is to create, with the help of experimental data, a quantitative mathematical model of the integron evolutionary dynamics to better understand its role in the spread and expression of antibiotic resistance phenotypes.BBSRC priorities areas:This project falls into the BBSRC priority of combating microbial resistance due to the major role of the integron in the acquisition, expression and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes among bacteria. We aim to tackle this problem through a systems approach, combining modelling and experimental data.