Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing Antibiotic Resistance Research Using an Efflux-Deficient Bacterial Strain and a Single-Copy Gene Expression System
Published on: January 5, 2024
The Evolution of Antimicrobial Resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii and New Strategies to Fight It
Viola Camilla Scoffone1, Gabriele Trespidi1, Giulia Barbieri1
1Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Abstract:
Acinetobacter baumannii is considered one of the prioritized ESKAPE microorganisms for the research and development of novel treatments by the World Health Organization, especially because of its remarkable persistence and drug resistance. In this review, we describe how this can be acquired by the enzymatic degradation of antibiotics, target site modification, altered membrane permeability, multidrug efflux pumps, and their ability to form biofilms. Also, the evolution of drug resistance in A. baumannii, which is mainly driven by mobile genetic elements, is reported, with particular reference to plasmid-associated resistance, resistance islands, and insertion sequences. Finally, an overview of existing, new, and alternative therapies is provided.
Related Concept Videos
Antibiotic Selection
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
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...
Genomic DNA in Prokaryotes
Genomic Diversity in Bacteria
Although bacterial genomes are much...
Bacterial Transformation
Griffith made an unexpected discovery when he killed the pathogenic strain and mixed its remains with the live, non-pathogenic strain. Not only did the mixture kill host mice, but it also contained living pathogenic bacteria that...
Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism
Such synergistic combinations...
Antimicrobial Proteins
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...

