Scientists discover 'drug resistance gene' in deadly E. coli

The research, led by the University of Queensland, has discovered that a particular form of the bacterium - Escherichia coli ST131 - has a previously unnoticed gene that makes it highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics

Professor Mark Schembri, from the University of Queensland's School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, said the "resistance gene" was spreading incredibly fast

"Unlike gene transfer in humans, which requires sex, bacteria have genetic structures called plasmids in their cells that can be exchanged between each other quickly and easily," Professor Smbry said.

This resistance gene was present in such a plasmid and rapidly conferred extreme resistance to the widely used fluoroquinolone antibiotics in E.

"These antibiotics are used to treat a variety of infections, including urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections and pneumonia

"Importantly, this gene works with other resistance genes to achieve levels higher than the highest antibiotic concentrations we can achieve during treatment

"As a result, we will have to rethink our treatment plans in an effort to create antibiotics that can address these infections despite this mechanism of antibiotic resistance

These findings provide the team with initial clues to explain how the antibiotic-resistant E.

E.

It is also one of the most common causes of sepsis, with approximately 11 million deaths each year

Now, researchers have their sights set on creating better treatments to stop E.

"We've lost a key part of treating UTIs and sepsis, but there's still hope," Professor Smbri said

"Now that we understand the impact of this plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance gene, we can design more targeted therapeutic strategies

"These could include new antibiotic combinations and even alternative non-antibiotic drugs to stop E.

The information could also be used to more effectively track emerging resistance to key last-line antibiotics, said the study's lead author, Dr.

"Resistance to antibiotics such as carbapenems and polymyxins is rapidly emerging in some parts of the world, and we found that the fluoroquinolone resistance genes we describe in our study are often associated with this resistance," Pan said.

"Evolution has provided E.
coli with this gene, but I believe human ingenuity is still capable of defeating this deadly bacterium
.
"

Journal Reference :

1. Minh-Duy Phan, Kate M.
   Peters, Laura Alvarez Fraga, Steven C.
   Wallis, Steven Hancock, Nguyen Thi Khanh Nhu, Brian Forde, Michelle J.
   Bauer, David L.
   Paterson, Scott A Beatson, Jeffrey Lipman, Mark A.
   Schembri.
   Plasmid-mediated ciprofloxacin resistance imparts a selective advantage on Escherichia coli ST131 .
   Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy , 2021; DOI: 10.
   1128/aac.
   02146-21 6, 2022).