Unlocking the Secrets of the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance in a Bacterium
A study published in Nature Communications has revealed new insight into the evolution of antibiotic resistance in a common intestinal bacterium. This research has implications for the treatment of bacterial infections in humans and could help inform strategies for limiting the spread of antibiotic resistance.
In this groundbreaking study, researchers studied the evolution of antibiotic resistance in the intestinal bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli). By sequencing the entire genome of multiple E. coli strains, the researchers were able to identify the specific genetic changes that led to the evolution of antibiotic resistance. The findings from this study suggest that the evolution of antibiotic resistance in this bacterium is driven by multiple changes in the genome, rather than a single mutation. This new information could help inform strategies for limiting the spread of antibiotic resistance, as well as providing insight into the evolution of antibiotic resistance in other bacteria.
source: Phys.org