A bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus is widespread and generally harmless, but can cause infections known as "opportunistic infections". These occur when the bacteria take advantage of certain situations, such as a weakened immune system or the presence of an open wound, to cause a harmful infection. These infections become particularly dangerous when the bacterial strain is resistant to treatment with antibiotics. Strains of Staphylococcus aureus known as MRSA, which are resistant to an antibiotic called methicillin, are becoming a significant problem worldwide. Now, a research team have revealed the mechanism by which this methicillin resistance can be passed between bacteria.
Genetic information for traits such as virulence and drug resistance can be passed from one bacterium to another through the transfer of mobile genetic elements, a process called horizontal gene transfer. There are a variety of methods by which bacteria can carry out horizontal gene transfer. The mechanism by which methicillin resistance is transferred has not previously been known.
Researchers have now shown that a process known as natural transformation is able to result in the transfer of the mobile genetic element that carries resistance to methicillin, known as "SCCmec". Natural transformation involves the bacterial cells entering a state termed "competence", in which they can take up genetic material from the environment outside their cell wall.
When a Staphylococcus aureus infection occurs, the bacteria tend to form a "biofilm", where the cells stick to each other and to the surface they are on, forming an organized network within a slimy extracellular structure. These biofilms are known to protect bacteria from the host immune system and medical treatment. This study has now shown that the environment within the biofilm also promotes horizontal gene transfer.
"Not only does our study reveal more about the spread of bacterial resistance, but it establishes a reliable system to detect natural transformation in Staphylococcus aureus," explains main author. "This will enable further research into how to interfere with this process and impede the spread of bacterial resistance."
"Biofilm formation seems key in allowing natural transformation to occur," explains senior author. "Targeting biofilm formation could be a promising approach for preventing the evolution of staphylococcal bacteria and the spread of bacterial resistance by the transfer of SCC mobile elements."
This work therefore represents a major step forward in the global battle against antibiotic resistance.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-29877-2
http://sciencemission.com/site/index.php?page=news&type=view&id=publications%2Fnatural-transformation&filter=22
Mechanism for spread of antibiotic resistance among bacteria
- 1,496 views
- Added
Latest News
New origin of deep brain waves
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Starving cells hijack prote…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Miniature battery-free epid…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Molecular causes of differe…
By newseditor
Posted 16 Apr
Cell's 'garbage disposal' h…
By newseditor
Posted 16 Apr
Other Top Stories
A brain-computer interface (BCI) based neurofeedback to modify an i…
Read more
Predicting cognitive development at age 2 using AI and MRI
Read more
Purple bacteria as a reporter of macrophage activity in tumors
Read more
Continuous-monitoring device using sweat for biochemical analysis
Read more
Vibration processing in the brain!
Read more
Protocols
MemPrep, a new technology f…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
A tangible method to assess…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
Stem cell-derived vessels-o…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Apr
Single-cell biclustering fo…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Apr
Modular dual-color BiAD sen…
By newseditor
Posted 31 Mar
Publications
The immunobiology of herpes…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Circulating microbiome DNA…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Spindle oscillations in com…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Oligodendroglial macroautop…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
COPII with ALG2 and ESCRTs…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
A chemical biology/modular…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Aug
Single-molecule covalent ma…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar