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Nature Reviews. Microbiology Oct 2023Antibiotic resistance is currently one of the most important public health problems. The golden age of antibiotic discovery ended decades ago, and new approaches are... (Review)
Review
Antibiotic resistance is currently one of the most important public health problems. The golden age of antibiotic discovery ended decades ago, and new approaches are urgently needed. Therefore, preserving the efficacy of the antibiotics currently in use and developing compounds and strategies that specifically target antibiotic-resistant pathogens is critical. The identification of robust trends of antibiotic resistance evolution and of its associated trade-offs, such as collateral sensitivity or fitness costs, is invaluable for the design of rational evolution-based, ecology-based treatment approaches. In this Review, we discuss these evolutionary trade-offs and how such knowledge can aid in informing combination or alternating antibiotic therapies against bacterial infections. In addition, we discuss how targeting bacterial metabolism can enhance drug activity and impair antibiotic resistance evolution. Finally, we explore how an improved understanding of the original physiological function of antibiotic resistance determinants, which have evolved to reach clinical resistance after a process of historical contingency, may help to tackle antibiotic resistance.
Topics: Humans; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Bacterial Infections; Bacteria; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biology; Drug Resistance, Bacterial
PubMed: 37208461
DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00902-5 -
Journal of AOAC International Jul 2018The indiscriminate use of antibiotics for the treatment of human and animal infections has led to the rise of resistance in pathogens and in commensal bacteria. In... (Review)
Review
The indiscriminate use of antibiotics for the treatment of human and animal infections has led to the rise of resistance in pathogens and in commensal bacteria. In particular, farm animals may act as vectors for the dissemination of drug-resistant genes because of the intensive use of antibiotics in animal production, enabling resistance to a wide range of antimicrobial agents, including those normally used in human medicine. Escherichia coli, being a widespread commensal, is considered a good indicator of antibiotic use. Ultimately, it is emerging as a global threat, developing dramatically high levels of antibiotic resistance to multiple classes of drugs. Its prevalence in food animals is hence alarming, and more studies are needed in order to ascertain the spread dynamics between the food chain and humans. In this context, great attention should be paid to the accurate detection of resistance by conventional and molecular methods. In this review, a comprehensive list of the most widely used testing methods is also addressed.
Topics: Animals; Disease Reservoirs; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Infections; Farms; Livestock; Microbiological Techniques
PubMed: 29554996
DOI: 10.5740/jaoacint.17-0445 -
Pest Management Science Sep 2021The challenges of resistance to antibiotics and resistance to herbicides have much in common. Antibiotic resistance became a risk in the 1950s, but a concerted global...
The challenges of resistance to antibiotics and resistance to herbicides have much in common. Antibiotic resistance became a risk in the 1950s, but a concerted global effort to manage it did not begin until after 2000. Widespread herbicide use began during the 1950s and was soon followed by an unabated rise in resistance. Here, we examine what lessons for combatting herbicide resistance could be learnt from the global, coordinated efforts of all stakeholders to avert the antibiotic resistance crisis. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Topics: Drug Resistance, Microbial; Herbicide Resistance; Herbicides; Plant Weeds; Weed Control
PubMed: 33682995
DOI: 10.1002/ps.6357 -
Bioresource Technology Jan 2021Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are present as both intracellular and extracellular fractions of DNA in the environment. Due to the poor yield of extracellular DNA in... (Review)
Review
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are present as both intracellular and extracellular fractions of DNA in the environment. Due to the poor yield of extracellular DNA in conventional extraction methods, previous studies have mainly focused on intracellular ARGs (iARGs). In this review, we evaluate the prevalence/persistence and horizontal transfer of iARGs and extracellular ARGs (eARGs) in different environments, and then explore advanced mitigation strategies in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) for preventing the spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment. Although iARGs are the main fraction of ARGs in nutrient-rich environments, eARGs are predominant in receiving aquatic environments. In such environments, natural transformation of eARGs occurs with a comparable frequency to conjugation of iARGs. Further, eARGs can be adsorbed by soil and sediments particles, protected from DNase degradation, and consequently persist longer than iARGs. Collectively, these characteristics emphasize the crucial role of eARGs in the spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment. Fate of iARGs and eARGs through advanced treatment technologies (disinfection and membrane filtration) indicates that different mitigation strategies may be required for each ARG fraction to be significantly removed. Finally, comprehensive risk assessment is needed to evaluate/compare the effect of iARGs versus eARGs in the environment.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Genes, Bacterial; Prevalence; Wastewater
PubMed: 33254446
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124181 -
Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao = Chinese... Jul 2022Recently, drug resistance resulted from the extensive abuse and over-use of antibiotics has posed a great threat to human health. Scholars have conducted numerous... (Review)
Review
Recently, drug resistance resulted from the extensive abuse and over-use of antibiotics has posed a great threat to human health. Scholars have conducted numerous studies on the impacts of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in different types of environments. Aerosol is not only a potential reservoir for ARGs, but also an important route for transmission of ARGs in the environment. However, a systematic summary of its sources, transmission, human exposure, and health risks is lacking. This review focused on four types of typical sites for aerosol research: human functional living places, farms, urban wastewater treatment plants, and hospitals. The sources, transmission routes, human exposure, and health risks of ARGs in the aerosol of these four typical sites were reviewed. This article also provides a reference for prevention and control of ARGs in aerosols.
Topics: Aerosols; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Genes, Bacterial; Humans; Wastewater
PubMed: 35871614
DOI: 10.13345/j.cjb.210829 -
Current Opinion in Biotechnology Aug 2017The rising prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria is an increasingly serious public health challenge. To address this problem, recent work ranging from clinical... (Review)
Review
The rising prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria is an increasingly serious public health challenge. To address this problem, recent work ranging from clinical studies to theoretical modeling has provided valuable insights into the mechanisms of resistance, its emergence and spread, and ways to counteract it. A deeper understanding of the underlying dynamics of resistance evolution will require a combination of experimental and theoretical expertise from different disciplines and new technology for studying evolution in the laboratory. Here, we review recent advances in the quantitative understanding of the mechanisms and evolution of antibiotic resistance. We focus on key theoretical concepts and new technology that enables well-controlled experiments. We further highlight key challenges that can be met in the near future to ultimately develop effective strategies for combating resistance.
Topics: Bacteria; Cell Physiological Phenomena; Directed Molecular Evolution; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Epistasis, Genetic; Humans; Mutation
PubMed: 28292709
DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2017.02.013 -
The Science of the Total Environment May 2021Microplastics (MPs) and pharmaceuticals are common emerging pollutants in sewage, and their coexistence may have more negative effects on the environments. This study...
Microplastics (MPs) and pharmaceuticals are common emerging pollutants in sewage, and their coexistence may have more negative effects on the environments. This study chose tetracycline (TC), ampicillin (AMP) and triclosan (TCS) to investigate the responses of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and microbial communities on different MPs (polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE)) biofilms (plastisphere). The adsorption capacity of three pharmaceuticals on PVC and PE decreased in the order of AMP > TC > TCS. PE was more conducive to microbial attachment than PVC. MPs led to the increase of the total copies of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in the sewage. Importantly, multidrug ARGs and MGEs were enriched on plastisphere. Furthermore, the co-occurrence of TC and MPs led to higher risks of spreading ARGs and MGEs. In addition, potential pathogenic bacteria Legionella, Mycobacterium, Neisseria and Arcobacter were more abundant on plastisphere than those in sewage, and these bacteria might be the hosts for ARGs and MGEs. This study showed that plastisphere could be repositories of ARGs and MGEs in sewage and accumulated potential pathogenic bacteria.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Genes, Bacterial; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Plastics; Sewage
PubMed: 33454495
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144663 -
ELife Apr 2021Bacteria carry antibiotic resistant genes on movable sections of DNA that allow them to select the relevant genes on demand.
Bacteria carry antibiotic resistant genes on movable sections of DNA that allow them to select the relevant genes on demand.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Integrons
PubMed: 33820602
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.68070 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Jan 2022Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging global concern as they are abundant in the environment and can act as vectors of various contaminants. However, whether and how MPs...
Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging global concern as they are abundant in the environment and can act as vectors of various contaminants. However, whether and how MPs can be vectors of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), especially extracellular ARGs (eARGs), remains far from explicit. This study addresses the adsorption of both intracellular ARGs (iARGs) and eARGs by four types of MPs in municipal wastewater, and then explores the potential horizontal gene transfer of iARGs and eARGs exposed to MPs. Results indicate that though MPs significantly adsorbed both iARGs and eARGs, eARGs were adsorbed with a significantly higher fold enrichment (2.0-5.0 log versus 2.0-3.3 log) and rate (0.0056 min versus 0.0037 min) than iARGs. While all four types of MPs adsorbed ARGs, polypropylene MPs showed the highest adsorption capacity for ARGs. Background constituents such as humic acid and antibiotics significantly inhibited adsorption of iARGs, but not eARGs on MPs. The presence of sodium chloride didn't significantly affect adsorption of iARGs or eARGs. The adsorption of ARGs was well explained by the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) interaction energy profile. Higher eARG adsorption was attributed to a lower energy barrier between MPs and eARGs than that between MPs and iARGs. Exposure to MPs enhanced horizontal gene transfer of both iARGs and eARGs by 1.5 and 2.0 times, respectively. The improved contact potential between donors and recipients, as well as the increased cell permeability of recipients induced the improved horizontal gene transfer by MPs. This study underscores the need to address ARG propagation through adsorption to MPs.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Genes, Bacterial; Microplastics; Plastics; Wastewater
PubMed: 34626704
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118284 -
Annals of the New York Academy of... Jul 2021Antibiotic resistance has reached dangerously high levels throughout the world. A growing number of bacteria pose an urgent, serious, and concerning threat to public... (Review)
Review
Antibiotic resistance has reached dangerously high levels throughout the world. A growing number of bacteria pose an urgent, serious, and concerning threat to public health. Few new antibiotics are available to clinicians and only few are in development, highlighting the need for new strategies to overcome the antibiotic resistance crisis. Combining existing antibiotics with phages, viruses the infect bacteria, is an attractive and promising alternative to standalone therapies. Phage-antibiotic combinations have been shown to suppress the emergence of resistance in bacteria, and sometimes even reverse it. Here, we discuss the mechanisms by which phage-antibiotic combinations reduce resistance evolution, and the potential limitations these mechanisms have in steering microbial resistance evolution in a desirable direction. We also emphasize the importance of gaining a better understanding of mechanisms behind physiological and evolutionary phage-antibiotic interactions in complex in-patient environments.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Bacteriophages; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Evolution, Molecular; Genes, Bacterial; Phage Therapy
PubMed: 33175408
DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14533