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Nanomechanics of Drug-target Interactions and Antibacterial Resistance Detection
11:56

Nanomechanics of Drug-target Interactions and Antibacterial Resistance Detection

Published on: October 25, 2013

Bacterial resistance to penicillin G by decreased affinity of penicillin-binding proteins: a mathematical model

L Temime1, P Y Boëlle, P Courvalin

  • 1Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 444, Paris, France. temime@u444.jussieu.fr

Emerging Infectious Diseases
|April 19, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Penicillin resistance is common in Streptococcus pneumoniae but rare in Neisseria meningitidis. Mathematical modeling suggests differences in colonization, contact, and antibiotic exposure explain this, predicting meningococcal resistance emergence within 10-30 years.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Mathematical Modeling

Background:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis share similar penicillin G resistance mechanisms.
  • Penicillin resistance is prevalent in S. pneumoniae but uncommon in N. meningitidis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the factors contributing to the disparity in penicillin resistance between S. pneumoniae and N. meningitidis.
  • To predict future trends in N. meningitidis resistance to penicillin G.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a mathematical model to simulate resistance development.
  • Analyzed determinants such as colonization, interhuman contact, and beta-lactam antibiotic exposure.

Main Results:

  • The model predicted the emergence of penicillin resistance in N. meningitidis within 10-30 years of widespread beta-lactam antibiotic use.
  • Observed a bimodal distribution of resistance levels over time, consistent with global patterns.

Conclusions:

  • Differences in colonization, contact rates, and antibiotic exposure significantly influence the epidemiology of penicillin resistance in these bacteria.
  • Mathematical modeling provides insights into the differing resistance trends of S. pneumoniae and N. meningitidis.

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