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Investigation of the effects of aquatic environmental conditions on the conjugation efficiency of antibiotic resistance genes

In recent years, the global increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes has become a serious concern. Considering this situation, it is important to control the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in aquatic environments, as they may be transmitted to humans through seafood, water, and agricultural products. Bacteria propagate genetic material through both vertical gene transfer, in which genes are inherited from parent to offspring via cell division, and horizontal gene transfer, in which genes are acquired from other bacteria in the environment. Among these mechanisms, conjugation, a form of horizontal gene transfer, is considered to play a major role in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, as it enables direct gene transfer between different bacterial species through cell-to-cell contact. Furthermore, biofilms are known to act as hotspots for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes; however, the effects of environmental conditions on biofilm formation and conjugation remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of aquatic environmental conditions on biofilm formation and the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes.