Extended Data Fig. 4: YokF provides growth advantage by limiting plasmid donation.
From: A family of endonucleases blocks nanotube-mediated plasmid exchange
(A) Effect of YokF on strain competition at varying donor-to-recipient ratios: Computational simulation of a competition between donor bacteria (kin) harboring (+) or lacking (-) yokF, both carrying a beneficial (antibiotic resistance) non-conjugative plasmid, and recipient bacteria (non-kin) lacking plasmid. Simulations were performed either under non-restricting conditions (-Antibiotics) or under conditions mimicking sub-lethal antibiotic pressure ( + Antibiotics). Plasmid transfer rate was set to 0% ( + yokF) or 5% (-yokF) every 10 min. The simulations started with different ratios of donor and recipient cells as indicated, donor: recipient 100:500 (upper panels), or donor: recipient 500:100 (lower panels). The simulations continued until the total bacterial count exceeded 106 cells. Division times were fixed at 40 min for donor cells (with or without antibiotic), 38 min (-Antibiotic) or 60 min ( + Antibiotic) for plasmid-free recipient cells, and 38 min for trans-recipient (non-kin+plasmid) cells. (B) Impact of trans-recipient generation time on strain competition following NPex: Simulations started with 100 cells for each donor or recipient bacteria and continued until the total bacterial count exceeded 106 cells. Plasmid transfer rate was set to 5% every 10 min in the presence of antibiotic. Division times were fixed at 40 min for donor cells (blue), 60 min for plasmid-free recipient cells, and varied from 30 to 50 min for trans-recipient (non-kin+plasmid) cells (red). (C) Impact of NPex rate on strain competition: Simulations started with 100 cells for each donor or recipient bacteria and continued until the total bacterial count exceeded 106 cells. Plasmid transfer rate varied from 0% to 15% every 10 min (0% represents donor containing yokF) in the presence of antibiotic. Division times were fixed at 40 min for donor cells (blue), 60 min for plasmid-free recipient cells, and 30 min for trans-recipient (non-kin+plasmid) cells (red).
