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Antibiotic Dereplication Using the Antibiotic Resistance Platform
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Dissecting the evolutionary stealth of our flora against antibiotics

Amy J Mathers1, Richard L Guerrant

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health and Center for Global Health University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|February 19, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Organisms develop resistance through subtle genes in normal flora. This includes transmissible quinolone resistance and incremental marches toward resistance in human populations under antibiotic pressure.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern.
  • Commensal flora plays a role in resistance development.
  • Mechanisms of resistance can be subtle and incremental.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the stealthy spread of resistance genes into the normal flora.
  • To understand the mechanisms of incremental resistance development.
  • To assess the prevalence of quinolone resistance in human commensal flora.

Main Methods:

  • Surveillance of resistance genes in commensal flora.
  • Analysis of quinolone resistance mechanisms (nalR and cipR).
  • Monitoring antibiotic pressure effects on microbial populations.

Main Results:

  • Resistance genes are found to 'sneak' into normal flora.
  • Incremental resistance mechanisms (nalR, cipR) are becoming common.
  • Commensal flora in antibiotic-exposed populations shows increasing resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Organisms exhibit 'smarter' evasion strategies beyond direct exposure resistance.
  • Subtle resistance gene transfer into normal flora poses a significant challenge.
  • Incremental resistance development in commensal flora requires ongoing monitoring and intervention.
Keywords:
AntibioticsNormal floraResistanceTransmissible quinolone resistance (TMQR)

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