A nucleoid-associated protein is involved in the emergence of antibiotic resistance by promoting the frequent exchange of the replicative DNA polymerase in Mycobacterium smegmatis .

replicates its chromosome more faithfully and acquires resistance to rifampin at a lower rate, but at the cost of impaired survival to DNA damaging agents. Together, our work establishes Lsr2 as a potential factor in the emergence of mycobacterial antibiotic resistance.