Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 29, 2026

In Vivo Investigation of Antimicrobial Blue Light Therapy for Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Burn Infections Using Bioluminescence Imaging
09:29

In Vivo Investigation of Antimicrobial Blue Light Therapy for Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Burn Infections Using Bioluminescence Imaging

Published on: April 28, 2017

9.9K

Clinical and laboratory-induced colistin-resistance mechanisms in Acinetobacter baumannii

Christine J Boinett1,2,3, Amy K Cain1,4, Jane Hawkey5,6,7

  • 11​Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK.

Microbial Genomics
|February 6, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is a growing threat. Researchers used advanced sequencing to uncover colistin resistance mechanisms, identifying key genes in drug efflux and cell wall synthesis. This reveals how bacteria evade this crucial antibiotic.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Multi-drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii poses a significant global health challenge.
  • Colistin, a vital antibiotic for MDR A. baumannii infections, faces increasing resistance.
  • Understanding colistin resistance mechanisms is crucial for developing effective treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively identify the genetic and molecular mechanisms of colistin resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii.
  • To investigate genotypic alterations associated with colistin resistance using high-throughput sequencing.

Main Methods:

  • Transposon-directed insertion site sequencing (TraDIS) to identify essential genes under colistin pressure.
  • RNA sequencing (RNAseq) to analyze gene expression changes in resistant strains.
  • Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to detect mutations and genetic disruptions in resistant isolates.

Main Results:

  • TraDIS identified genes in drug efflux (adeIJK), phospholipid synthesis (mlaC, mlaF, mlaD), and lipooligosaccharide synthesis (lpxC, lpsO) as critical for colistin survival.
  • RNAseq showed enhanced expression of efflux pump genes (adeI, adeC, emrB, mexB, macAB) in resistant strains.
  • WGS revealed mutations in lipid A synthesis (lpxC), phospholipid synthesis (mlaA), and the BaeS/R two-component system (TCS), with PmrB mutations being primary in Vietnamese clinical strains.

Conclusions:

  • Multiple mechanisms contribute to colistin resistance in A. baumannii, including enhanced drug efflux and alterations in cell envelope synthesis.
  • Gene disruptions or modifications affecting lipid A and phospholipid pathways are key resistance strategies.
  • The study elucidates the full spectrum of colistin resistance mechanisms in A. baumannii, highlighting drug extrusion and lipid A modification.
Keywords:
Acinetobacter baumanniiRNAseqTraDIScolistin resistancemulti-drug resistancewhole-genome sequencing

More Related Videos

Rapid and Specific Detection of Acinetobacter baumannii Infections Using a Recombinase Polymerase Amplification/Cas12a-based System07:59

Rapid and Specific Detection of Acinetobacter baumannii Infections Using a Recombinase Polymerase Amplification/Cas12a-based System

Published on: April 25, 2025

1.3K
The Application of Open Searching-based Approaches for the Identification of Acinetobacter baumannii O-linked Glycopeptides08:37

The Application of Open Searching-based Approaches for the Identification of Acinetobacter baumannii O-linked Glycopeptides

Published on: November 2, 2021

2.6K

Related Concept Videos

Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers01:51

Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers

Retroviruses are RNA viruses that have been shown to cause cancers in diverse species, including chickens, mice, cats, and monkeys. The RNA genomes of these viruses are first reverse-transcribed into single and then double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) copies. This dsDNA called proviral DNA then integrates into the host genome. Subsequently, the host cell transcribes the proviral DNA in concert with the chromosomal DNA. This leads to the production of viral RNA and proteins that assemble at the host...
7.0K
Resistivity01:22

Resistivity

When a voltage is applied to a conductor, an electrical field is generated, and charges in the conductor feel the force due to the electrical field. The current density that results depends on the electrical field and the properties of the material. In some materials, including metals at a given temperature, the current density is approximately proportional to the electrical field. In these cases, the current density can be modeled as:
4.5K
Resistance01:19

Resistance

When a current moves through any conductor, the conductor causes some level of difficulty for the current to flow. The measure of that difficulty is known as the resistance of the material and is represented by R. Every material has its own resistance. In the case of conductors, heat is emitted whenever a current passes through them. Resistance depends on the resistivity of the material. Resistivity is a characteristic of the material used to fabricate electrical components, whereas the...
6.0K
Equivalent Resistance01:16

Equivalent Resistance

In circuit analysis, situations often arise where resistors are neither in series nor parallel configurations. To tackle such scenarios, three-terminal equivalent networks like the wye (Y) (Figure 1 (a)) or tee (T) and delta (Δ) (Figure 1 (b)) or pi (π) networks come into play. These networks offer versatile solutions and are frequently encountered in various applications, including three-phase electrical systems, electrical filters, and matching networks.
977
Resistance and Conductance01:25

Resistance and Conductance

A conductor's DC resistance at a given temperature is influenced by its resistivity, length, and cross-sectional area. Resistivity is an inherent property of the conductor material, with annealed copper serving as the international standard for measurement. For instance, the resistivity of hard-drawn aluminum at 20 degrees Celsius is 61% of the standard conductivity of annealed copper.
Various factors impact the resistance of a conductor. Spiraling in stranded conductors increases their...
509
Rolling Resistance01:21

Rolling Resistance

When a solid cylinder rolls steadily on a rigid surface, the normal force applied by the surface on the cylinder is perpendicular to the tangent at the contact point. However, since no materials are entirely rigid, the surface's reaction to the cylinder involves a range of normal pressures.
For instance, imagine a hard cylinder rolling on a comparatively soft surface. The cylinder's weight compresses the surface beneath it. As the cylinder moves, the material in front of it slows down due to...
643