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Multidrug resistance in Gram-negative bacteria.

¹Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada. poolek@post.queensu.ca

Current Opinion in Microbiology

|October 6, 2001

Summary

Multidrug efflux pumps are crucial for bacterial resistance. Their widespread presence suggests a general role in cell function beyond antibiotic resistance, especially in Gram-negative bacteria.

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Molecular Biology
Genomics

Background:

Multidrug efflux mechanisms significantly contribute to intrinsic and acquired multidrug resistance in Gram-negative bacteria.
Genomic studies reveal the widespread distribution of these systems across all bacteria.
The broad specificity of these transporters suggests potential roles beyond antimicrobial efflux.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the potential housekeeping roles of multidrug efflux transporters.
To understand the significance of their widespread distribution and conservation in bacteria.
To investigate their contribution to antimicrobial resistance, particularly in Gram-negative bacteria.

Main Methods:

Analysis of bacterial genomics data to confirm the distribution of multidrug efflux systems.
Review of existing literature on the function and substrate specificity of these transporters.
Comparative analysis of transporter multiplicity and substrate overlap within microorganisms.

Main Results:

Multidrug efflux systems are confirmed to be present in all bacteria.
Many of these transporters are dispensable, questioning their role in essential cellular functions.
The multiplicity and overlapping specificity of these systems may explain the dispensability of individual transporters.
Conservation across organisms highlights their general importance in antimicrobial resistance.

Conclusions:

Multidrug efflux transporters likely play a general role in cellular functions beyond antibiotic resistance.
Their conservation underscores their importance in antimicrobial resistance, especially in Gram-negative bacteria.
The complex interplay of multiple efflux systems contributes to bacterial survival and drug resistance.

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