An important factor to consider when providing antibiotics is the possibility of the bacteria gaining resistance to it. My questions pertains to how these bacteria are able to gain resistance and the mechanisms involved for it to happen? And what can we possibly do to lessen the chances of this happening?
Resistance arises through random mutation which generates genetic diversity within the population followed by selection. This means from a clonal population you will get increasing diversity as time progresses and the amount of diversity will be dependent on population size. Resistance can occur by target site insensitivity, gain of function or upregulation of phase I detoxification (inactivation/catabolism), gain of function or upregulation of phase II detoxification (conjugation and export) or by metabolic rewiring to compensate. There is a lower chance of evolving target site insensitivity if compensatory mutations also greatly impair the normal function of the target. The likelihood of novel enzymatic activity against your antibiotic is increased if the bacteria already have enzymes that use similar substrates. The possibility for metabolic rewiring is highly dependent on the redundancy of the target and the pathway being targeted. The best way to avoid resistance emerging is to use antibiotic cocktails as the probability of resistance inducing mutations occurring in multiple targets simultaneously becomes exponentially lower with the increasing number of targets. Avoiding using analogs of natural products is also a good strategy as the bacteria are likely to have encountered the originals at some point so will have some capacity for their metabolism.
Antibiotics are known to alter bacterial processes and reduce their chances of developing. However, certain bacteria have evolved throughout time, allowing them to survive the effects of antibiotics, a phenomenon known as antibiotic resistance. In this scenario, two strategies for bacteria to resist the effects of an antibiotic are:
- Stopping the antibiotic from reaching its target at a high enough concentration: Bacteria can reduce the permeability of the bacterial cell's membrane, making it difficult for the antibiotic to pass. They additionally have the ability to alter the antibiotic by producing enzymes that disrupt the chemical groups of the antibiotic, preventing interaction between the target bacterial cell and the antibiotic.
- Modify or circumvent the antibiotic's target: Bacteria can conceal their target by modifying their general composition or structure. This protects the target, preventing the antibiotic from interacting with it.
With antibiotic resistance becoming a serious concern, it is important to determine ways to reduce it. Examples of ways to prevent it are as follows:
- Only use antibiotics as prescribed. Complete the entire course of medication; do not skip any doses
- Never ingest antibiotics intended for other people
- Don’t take antibiotics, if not necessary
Antibiotic Resistance. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2024, from https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/a/antibiotic-resistance.html
Resistance mechanisms – Antibiotic resistance – ReAct. (2021, December 9). ReAct. https://www.reactgroup.org/toolbox/understand/antibiotic-resistance/resistance-mechanisms-in-bacteria/
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