Summary and General Discussion

The research described in the first part of this thesis is focussed on the role and characteristics of mobile genetic elements. These DNA elements give bacteria the ability to pass on traits, such as antibiotic resistance mechanisms and virulence factors. Since bacteria are continuously exchanging DNA, a rapid emergence of multidrug resistant microorganisms occurs. Due to a lack of fallback agents, we are facing problems we thought we would never face again: the loss of a cure for bacterial infections! This first part addresses the different aspects of both the epidemiology and molecular characteristics of antibiotic resistance (Chapters 1, 2, 3A and 3B) and its relation with mobile DNA elements.