Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2025
09:00
Testing the Role of Multicopy Plasmids in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance
Published on: May 2, 2018
11.6K
Antibiotic resistant bacteria survive treatment by doubling while shrinking
Adrian Campey1, Urszula Łapińska1, Remy Chait1
1Living Systems Institute and Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom.
Mbio
|November 20, 2024
Summary
Bacteria evolve diverse strategies to survive antibiotics. In structured environments, they develop genetic resistance and a unique tolerance by shrinking, while well-mixed environments favor stronger resistance mutations.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance is a major global health threat.
- Environmental structure influences antibiotic resistance evolution.
- Previous studies focused on population-level responses, neglecting single-cell behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate antibiotic resistance evolution in different environments.
- Compare single-cell responses to antibiotics in well-mixed vs. structured settings.
- Understand bacterial survival strategies against antibiotics.
Main Methods:
- Experimental evolution of *Escherichia coli*.
- Genomic analysis of evolved strains.
- Microfluidics-based time-lapse microscopy.
Main Results:
- Resistance to ciprofloxacin was stronger in well-mixed environments due to target mutations.
- Structured environments favored efflux regulator mutations and persister subpopulations.
- Bacteria exhibited a novel tolerance mechanism: doubling while shrinking in size.
Conclusions:
- Environmental structure dictates the type of antibiotic resistance evolved.
- Bacteria employ diverse genetic and phenotypic strategies for survival.
- A newly discovered phenotypic response involves size changes during antibiotic exposure.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Development of Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
00:57Antibiotic Selection
52.3K
Overview
52.3K
01:31Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
1.4K
The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
1.4K
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
3.3K
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.3K
00:46Genomic DNA in Prokaryotes
43.4K
The genome of most prokaryotic organisms consists of double-stranded DNA organized into one circular chromosome in a region of cytoplasm called the nucleoid. The chromosome is tightly wound, or supercoiled, for efficient storage. Prokaryotes also contain other circular pieces of DNA called plasmids. These plasmids are smaller than the chromosome and often carry genes that confer adaptive functions, such as antibiotic resistance.
Genomic Diversity in Bacteria
Although bacterial genomes are much...
Genomic Diversity in Bacteria
Although bacterial genomes are much...
43.4K
01:28Antimicrobial Effectiveness
2
The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
2