Question

Research a specific type of drug-resistant bacteria. Discuss the mechanisms by which resistance arose in this type of bacteria. If this type of bacterium was present at the same time in the same person as another mildly pathogenic bacterium, how would the resistance spread to the second type of bacteria and how would that bacteria become more pathogenic over time?

Answer 1

Bacteria : Staphylococcus aureus

It's a bacteria that is virtually susceptible to all kinds of antibiotic present . Earlier during 1900s, penicillin G was used to treat S. aureus , but with time it grew resistance against it .it was mainly due to the presence of beta lactamase enzyme which breaks the beta-lactam group of the antibiotic.

Other than this, other few mechanisms are the efflux of the antibiotic, restricted influx of the antibiotic into the cell by reducing the no. Of porin proteins on the surface etc.

With time when other antibiotics were continuing, it started getting more resistant by above mentioned processes or by spontaneous mutation due to the presence of antibiotic or by acquiring resistant gene cassettes from other resistant bacteria via conjugation or transformation.

- if this bacteri ais present with another second bacteria, the resistance may spread via conjugation or transformation. The second bacteria my itself spontaneous mutate to grew resistance on its own.