Mutation and Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance: Antibiotics as Promoters of Antibiotic Resistance?

Authors: Blazquez J.; Oliver A.; Gomez-Gomez J-M.

Source: Current Drug Targets, Volume 3, Number 4, August 2002 , pp. 345-349(5)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Antibiotic resistance appearance and spread have been classically considered the result of a process of natural selection, directed by the use of antibiotics. Bacteria, that have to face the antibiotic challenge, evolve to acquire resistance and, under this strong selective pressure, only the fittest survive, leading to the spread of resistance mechanisms and resistant clones. Horizontal transference of resistance mechanisms seems to be the main way of antibiotic resistance acquisition. Nevertheless, recent findings on hypermutability and antibiotic-induced hypermutation in bacteria have modified the landscape. Here, we present a review of the last data on molecular mechanisms of hypermutability in bacteria and their relationship with the acquisition of antibiotic resistance. Finally, we discuss the possibility that antibiotics may act not only as selectors for antibiotic resistant bacteria but also as resistance promoters.

Keywords: Antibiotic Resistance; hypermutation; hypermutability

Language: English

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389450023347579

Publication date: 2002-08-01

• Current Drug Targets aims to cover the latest and most outstanding developments on the medicinal chemistry and pharmacology of molecular drug targets e.g. disease specific proteins, receptors, enzymes, genes. Each issue of the journal will be devoted to a single timely topic, with series of in-depth reviews, written by leaders in the field, covering a range of current topics on drug targets. These issues will be organized and led by a guest editor who is a recognized expert in the overall topic. As the discovery, identification, characterisation and validation of novel human drug targets for drug discovery continues to grow; this journal will be essential reading for all pharmaceutical scientists involved in drug discovery and development.

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