How Horizontal Gene Transfer Drives Antibiotic Resistance Through Gene Transfer Agents

Gene transfer agents are virus-like particles that bacteria use to share antibiotic resistance genes across populations through horizontal gene transfer. Unlike bacteriophages, GTAs are non-infectious and operate under strict host regulation, triggered by environmental stress. This article explores how these altruistic genetic couriers work, how they compare to conjugation and transduction, and why they represent a growing threat in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.