Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 10, 2026

The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
11:13

The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test

Published on: November 19, 2015

14.6K

Uncovering emergent interactions in three-way combinations of stressors

Casey Beppler1,2, Elif Tekin3, Zhiyuan Mao1,2

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
|December 16, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Emergent antagonisms are more common than synergies in three-drug combinations impacting bacterial growth. This study reveals complex multi-stressor interactions in Escherichia coli, crucial for understanding drug resistance and ecosystem dynamics.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Systems Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Predicting biological system dynamics requires understanding multi-stressor interactions.
  • Higher-order (three or more components) stressor interactions remain understudied.
  • Applications range from combination drug therapies to ecosystem toxicology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate higher-order interactions of three-drug combinations on bacterial growth.
  • To develop a framework for analyzing emergent three-way interactions.
  • To quantify the frequency of emergent synergism and antagonism.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental measurement of Escherichia coli growth rates under single, pairwise, and triple-drug combinations.
  • Derivation of a framework to predict three-way interaction expectations from lower-order effects.
  • Comparison of emergent interactions with net effects.

Main Results:

  • Emergent antagonisms were found to be more frequent than emergent synergies.
  • The frequency of emergent antagonisms and rare emergent synergies differs from predictions based on net effects alone.
  • A framework was established to disentangle pairwise from three-way interactions.

Conclusions:

  • Emergent antagonisms are prevalent in complex drug interactions.
  • Net effect measures can obscure the true nature of higher-order interactions.
  • Accurate prediction of multi-stressor outcomes necessitates disentangling interaction orders.
Keywords:
antagonismantibioticsdrug resistancehigher-order interactionsmultiple stressorssynergy

More Related Videos

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents06:15

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

Published on: July 10, 2017

13.9K
Author Spotlight: Unveiling Mechanisms of Stress Resilience - Significant Findings, Advancements, and Future Research05:03

Author Spotlight: Unveiling Mechanisms of Stress Resilience - Significant Findings, Advancements, and Future Research

Published on: December 15, 2023

5.1K

Related Concept Videos

Types of Stressors01:23

Types of Stressors

A stressor is any event, condition, or stimulus that triggers stress and causes a physical or psychological response in the body. Stressors can be categorized into three main types: catastrophes; significant life changes; and daily hassles, including social stress. Each can be detrimental to physical and mental well-being.
Catastrophes
Catastrophes refer to large-scale, unpredictable events that create overwhelming stress and a sense of threat. Examples include natural disasters like...
795
Psychological Responses to Stress01:20

Psychological Responses to Stress

Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
806
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle01:27

Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle

Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
735
Components of Stress01:23

Components of Stress

Stress analysis under multiple loading conditions is intricate, necessitating a comprehensive grasp of normal and shearing stresses. Consider a small cube at point O, subjected to stress on all six faces, visible or not. Normal stress components σx, σy, σz act perpendicularly to the x, y, and z axes. Shearing stress components τxy and τxz are exerted on faces perpendicular to these axes.
Interestingly, the hidden cube faces also experience these stresses, equal and...
602
Applications of Stress01:04

Applications of Stress

Consider a structure made of a boom and a rod designed to support a load. These two components are connected by a pin and stabilized by brackets and pins. The boom and the rod are detached from their supports to assess the different stresses imposed on this structure, and a free-body diagram is drawn. Then, all the forces applied, including the load acting on the structure, are identified. The reaction forces exerted on both the boom and the rod are computed using the equilibrium equations.
The...
716
Physiological Foundation of Stress01:24

Physiological Foundation of Stress

Stress triggers a coordinated physiological response involving the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This dual activation ensures that the body is prepared for both immediate and prolonged stress management. The process begins with the perception of a stressor. This initial phase activates the SNS, leading to the rapid release of adrenaline (epinephrine) from the adrenal glands.
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System
Adrenaline triggers the...
860