Bacteria’s ability to acquire and/or exchange their genetic material between themselves is a major driver of microbial evolution and a mechanism by which resistance can spread. 

Imperial researchers, many of whom are members of Imperial's Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, are exploring the mechanism of this so-called 'horizontal gene transfer'.

Researchers in this field include: 

• Professor José Penadés: Molecular basis of bacterial virulence with a major focus on the mechanisms underlying the transfer of different mobile genetic elements (MGEs) 
• Dr Tiago Costa: Molecular machines driving antimicrobial resistance proliferation
• Dr Yu Wan: Molecular basis, spread, and evolution of mobile genetic elements
• Dr Luke Allsopp: Understanding acquisition and impact of HRT on the evolution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its virulence factors

Links:

• Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology