Detailed characterization of plasmids carrying resistance genes using optical DNA mapping

We present an assay, based on optical DNA mapping in nanochannels that is capable of characterizing the plasmid content of bacterial isolates resistant to antibiotics in a fast an detailed way. In a single experiment we determine the number of different plasmids in each sample, their size, as well as a barcode that can be used for plasmid identification and tracing. In addition we demonstrate that we can identify resistance genes on individual plasmids using CRISPR/Cas9. We foresee that the assay can be a useful tool all the way from fundamental plasmid biology to diagnostics and surveillance of resistant infections.