This study aimed to explore the competitive dynamics between wild-type and drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus under antibiotic-free conditions. The wild-type strain ATCC6538 and the resistant strain P01 were co-cultured in liquid medium for 32 hours, and to evaluate the competitive adaptability of the two strains, we monitored the dynamic changes in their viable cell densities in the medium. During separate cultures, both ATCC6538 and P01 reached viable cell densities of 108 to 109 CFU·mL-1. However, in the mixed culture, the viable cell density of strain ATCC6538 reached 108 CFU·mL-1, whereas strain P01 reached 106 ~ 107 CFU·mL-1, indicating that in the absence of antibiotic selection pressure, the wild-type strain demonstrated superior competitive fitness compared to the resistant strain. During the early stage of co-culture, both strains exhibited similar changes in cell density, but approximately 12 h into the mixed culture, strain ATCC6538 continued to increase in density, while strain P01 began to decrease, ultimately leading to strain ATCC6538 gaining a competitive advantage, likely due to differences in metabolic efficiency and resource utilization. This suggests that the wild-type strain ATCC6538 exhibited greater competitive capability compared to the resistant strain P01 in the later stages of mixed culture. The development of antibiotic resistance has been shown to impose a metabolic burden on the cells, which can negatively impact cellular growth rates and functional traits, thereby reducing competitive fitness under nutrient-limited conditions. Moreover, changes during the growth process indicate that resource availability is also a crucial factor affecting coexistence and competition between the two strains. These findings provide a reference for further analysis of microbial competitive interactions.
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