Plasmids are genetic elements that play a role in bacterial evolution by providing new genes that promote adaptation to diverse conditions. Plasmids are also known to reduce bacterial competitiveness in the absence of selection for plasmid-encoded traits. It is easier to understand plasmid persistence when considering the evidence that plasmid maintenance can improve during co-evolution with the bacterial host, i.e. the chromosome. However, bacteria isolated from nature often harbor diverse mobile elements: phages, transposons, genomic islands and even other plasmids. Recent interest has emerged on the role such elements play on the persistence and evolution of plasmids. Here, we mainly review interactions between different plasmids, but also discuss their interactions with other genetic elements. We focus on interactions that impact fundamental plasmid traits, such as the fitness effect imposed on their hosts and the transfer efficiency into new host cells. We illustrate these phenomena with examples concerning clinically relevant organisms and the spread of plasmids carrying antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors.

中文翻译：

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质粒与其他流动遗传元件之间的相互作用会影响其传播和持久性。

质粒是通过提供促进适应多种条件的新基因而在细菌进化中起作用的遗传元件。在没有选择质粒编码性状的情况下，已知质粒也会降低细菌竞争性。考虑到与细菌宿主（即染色体）共同进化过程中质粒维持能力可以改善的证据，更容易理解质粒的持久性。但是，从自然界中分离出来的细菌通常带有多种移动元素：噬菌体，转座子，基因组岛甚至其他质粒。近年来，人们对这类元素在质粒的持久性和进化中的作用产生了兴趣。在这里，我们主要回顾不同质粒之间的相互作用，也讨论它们与其他遗传元件的相互作用。我们专注于影响基本质粒特性的相互作用，例如强加于其宿主的适应性效应以及向新宿主细胞的转移效率。我们用有关临床相关生物的例子以及携带抗生素抗性基因和毒力因子的质粒的传播来举例说明这些现象。