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Preparation of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and the Evaluation of their Antibacterial Effects
Published on: September 27, 2024
Role of reactive oxygen species in antibiotic action and resistance
Daniel J Dwyer1, Michael A Kohanski, James J Collins
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for BioDynamics and Center for Advanced Biotechnology, Boston University, 44 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215, USA. djdwyer@bu.edu
Abstract:
The alarming spread of bacterial strains exhibiting resistance to current antibiotic therapies necessitates that we elucidate the specific genetic and biochemical responses underlying drug-mediated cell killing, so as to increase the efficacy of available treatments and develop new antibacterials. Recent research aimed at identifying such cellular contributions has revealed that antibiotics induce changes in metabolism that promote the formation of reactive oxygen species, which play a role in cell death. Here we discuss the relationship between drug-induced oxidative stress, the SOS response and their potential combined contribution to resistance development. Additionally, we describe ways in which these responses are being taken advantage to combat bacterial infections and arrest the rise of resistant strains.
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