Fierce poison to others: the phenomenon of bacterial dependence on antibiotics
Abstract Beyond the development of resistance, the effects of antibiotics on bacteria and microbial communities are complex and far from exhaustively studied. In the context of the current global antimicrobial resistance crisis, understanding the adaptive and physiological responses of bacteria to a...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-08-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Biomedical Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-023-00963-x |
| _version_ | 1797557479160152064 |
|---|---|
| author | Claudia C. Paredes-Amaya María Teresa Ulloa Víctor Antonio García-Angulo |
| author_facet | Claudia C. Paredes-Amaya María Teresa Ulloa Víctor Antonio García-Angulo |
| author_sort | Claudia C. Paredes-Amaya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Beyond the development of resistance, the effects of antibiotics on bacteria and microbial communities are complex and far from exhaustively studied. In the context of the current global antimicrobial resistance crisis, understanding the adaptive and physiological responses of bacteria to antimicrobials is of paramount importance along with the development of new therapies. Bacterial dependence on antibiotics is a phenomenon in which antimicrobials instead of eliminating the pathogens actually provide a boost for their growth. This trait comprises an extreme example of the complexities of responses elicited by microorganisms to these drugs. This compelling evolutionary trait was readily described along with the first wave of antibiotics use and dependence to various antimicrobials has been reported. Nevertheless, current molecular characterizations have been focused on dependence on vancomycin, linezolid and colistin, three critically important antibiotics frequently used as last resource therapy for multi resistant pathogens. Outstanding advances have been made in understanding the molecular basis for the dependence to vancomycin, including specific mutations involved. Regarding linezolid and colistin, the general physiological components affected by the dependence, namely ribosomes and membrane function respectively, have been established. Nonetheless the implications of antibiotic dependence in clinically relevant features, such as virulence, epidemics, relationship with development of resistance, diagnostics and therapy effectiveness require clarification. This review presents a brief introduction of the phenomenon of bacterial dependence to antibiotics and a summary on early and current research concerning the basis for this trait. Furthermore, the available information on the effect of dependence in key clinical aspects is discussed. The studies performed so far underline the need to fully disclose the biological and clinical significance of this trait in pathogens to successfully assess its role in resistance and to design adjusted therapies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:17:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dab65804c29f4bce8b66628ed775fd70 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1423-0127 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:17:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Biomedical Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-dab65804c29f4bce8b66628ed775fd702023-11-20T10:28:05ZengBMCJournal of Biomedical Science1423-01272023-08-0130111510.1186/s12929-023-00963-xFierce poison to others: the phenomenon of bacterial dependence on antibioticsClaudia C. Paredes-Amaya0María Teresa Ulloa1Víctor Antonio García-Angulo2Microbiology Department, Escuela de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Salud, Universidad del ValleMicrobiology and Micology Program, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de ChileMicrobiology and Micology Program, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de ChileAbstract Beyond the development of resistance, the effects of antibiotics on bacteria and microbial communities are complex and far from exhaustively studied. In the context of the current global antimicrobial resistance crisis, understanding the adaptive and physiological responses of bacteria to antimicrobials is of paramount importance along with the development of new therapies. Bacterial dependence on antibiotics is a phenomenon in which antimicrobials instead of eliminating the pathogens actually provide a boost for their growth. This trait comprises an extreme example of the complexities of responses elicited by microorganisms to these drugs. This compelling evolutionary trait was readily described along with the first wave of antibiotics use and dependence to various antimicrobials has been reported. Nevertheless, current molecular characterizations have been focused on dependence on vancomycin, linezolid and colistin, three critically important antibiotics frequently used as last resource therapy for multi resistant pathogens. Outstanding advances have been made in understanding the molecular basis for the dependence to vancomycin, including specific mutations involved. Regarding linezolid and colistin, the general physiological components affected by the dependence, namely ribosomes and membrane function respectively, have been established. Nonetheless the implications of antibiotic dependence in clinically relevant features, such as virulence, epidemics, relationship with development of resistance, diagnostics and therapy effectiveness require clarification. This review presents a brief introduction of the phenomenon of bacterial dependence to antibiotics and a summary on early and current research concerning the basis for this trait. Furthermore, the available information on the effect of dependence in key clinical aspects is discussed. The studies performed so far underline the need to fully disclose the biological and clinical significance of this trait in pathogens to successfully assess its role in resistance and to design adjusted therapies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-023-00963-xAntibiotic dependenceAntimicrobial resistanceVancomycinLinezolidColistin |
| spellingShingle | Claudia C. Paredes-Amaya María Teresa Ulloa Víctor Antonio García-Angulo Fierce poison to others: the phenomenon of bacterial dependence on antibiotics Journal of Biomedical Science Antibiotic dependence Antimicrobial resistance Vancomycin Linezolid Colistin |
| title | Fierce poison to others: the phenomenon of bacterial dependence on antibiotics |
| title_full | Fierce poison to others: the phenomenon of bacterial dependence on antibiotics |
| title_fullStr | Fierce poison to others: the phenomenon of bacterial dependence on antibiotics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fierce poison to others: the phenomenon of bacterial dependence on antibiotics |
| title_short | Fierce poison to others: the phenomenon of bacterial dependence on antibiotics |
| title_sort | fierce poison to others the phenomenon of bacterial dependence on antibiotics |
| topic | Antibiotic dependence Antimicrobial resistance Vancomycin Linezolid Colistin |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-023-00963-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT claudiacparedesamaya fiercepoisontoothersthephenomenonofbacterialdependenceonantibiotics AT mariateresaulloa fiercepoisontoothersthephenomenonofbacterialdependenceonantibiotics AT victorantoniogarciaangulo fiercepoisontoothersthephenomenonofbacterialdependenceonantibiotics |