Informing plasmid compatibility with bacterial hosts using protein-protein interaction data

Abstract

The compatibility of plasmids with new host cells is significant given their role in spreading antimicrobial resistance (AMR)1 and virulence factor genes. Evaluating this using in vitro screening is laborious and can be informed by computational analyses of plasmid-host compatibility through rates of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between plasmid and host cell proteins. We identified large excesses of such PPIs in eight important plasmids, including pOXA-48, using most known bacteria (n=4,363). 23 species had high rates of interactions with four blaOXA-48-positive plasmids. We also identified 48 species with high interaction rates with plasmids common in Escherichia coli. We found a strong association between one plasmid and the fimbrial adhesin operon pil, which could enhance host cell adhesion in aqueous environments. An excess rate of PPIs could be a sign of host-plasmid compatibility, which is important for AMR control given that plasmids like pOXA-48 move between species with ease. HighlightsO_LIWe tested for protein interactions between key plasmids and 4,363 bacterial hosts C_LIO_LI23 host species had high rates of protein interactions with four blaOXA-48 plasmids C_LIO_LIPseudomonas species showed high rates of interactions with these plasmids C_LIO_LIHost-plasmid protein-protein interaction rates may be associated with compatibility C_LI