[Campbell Biology P.630] A nonpathogenic bacterium acquires an R plasmid carrying resistance... | Practice Question

A nonpathogenic bacterium acquires an R plasmid carrying resistance genes for multiple antibiotics. Based on the provided text, what is the most significant public health concern posed by this event?

  • A: The nonpathogenic bacterium will immediately become pathogenic, directly causing disease.
  • B: The R plasmid will cause the nonpathogenic bacterium to die, reducing its population.
  • C: The acquired resistance genes could spread rapidly to other bacterial populations, including pathogenic strains, through conjugation, exacerbating antibiotic resistance.
  • D: The resistance genes will be confined to the original nonpathogenic bacterium and cannot be transferred to other bacterial species.

Explanation

The text on "R Plasmids and Antibiotic Resistance" states that R plasmids carry genes for antibiotic resistance and enable their transfer to other bacterial cells through conjugation. This means that even if a nonpathogenic bacterium acquires these genes, it can act as a reservoir and donor, spreading resistance to other bacteria, including potentially pathogenic ones. This rapid spread of resistance genes is described as a "problem of great public health concern."