Game Theory and Antimicrobial Resistance Evolution in Bacterial Populations

Author: Ryan Chan
Affiliation: Cambridge Centre for International Research (CCIR Academy), Chantilly High School, Virginia, USA

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Abstract:

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The development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among bacteria decrease their susceptibility to antibiotics, resulting in higher mortality rates worldwide. The spread of AMR is due in part to the actions of mobile genetic elements (MGEs), which transfer genes, including AMR genes, by integrating into parts of DNA. Studying the spread of AMR is of the utmost importance as a stepping stone to determine how to contain it. This can be studied using Evolutionary Game Theory (EGT), which assumes that species evolve to utilize optimal strategies. EGT allows researchers to model the changes in behavior between organisms. This paper reviews previous examples of EGT being applied to the spread of AMR, then narrows our scope and analyzes the potential applicability of EGT on the movements and gene transfers of MGEs.

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Keywords: Evolutionary Game Theory, Antimicrobial Resistance, MGEs

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ISSN 3069-8200