Antimicrobials & Antibiotic Resistance

Genetics and Proteomics of antimicrobial resistance

Bacteria can acquire antibiotic resistance genes from other bacteria in several ways. By undergoing a simple mating process called "conjugation," bacteria can transfer genetic material, including genes encoding resistance to antibiotics (found on plasmids and transposons) from one bacterium to another. Antibiotic resistance genes have been identified in diverse environments including soil, gull feces and, increasingly, in the human gut microbiota. Scientists have applied a range of approaches to detect antibiotic resistance genes in environmental or non-clinical microbiomes, all of which have their own inherent strengths/limitations.

Proteomic studies have improved our understanding of the microbial world. The most recent advances in this field have helped us to explore aspects beyond genomics. Proteomics has also advanced our knowledge of mechanisms of bacterial virulence and some important aspects of how bacteria interact with human cells and, thus, of the pathogenesis of infectious diseases. We have used proteomic technology to elucidate the complex cellular responses of Bacillus subtilis to antimicrobial compounds belonging to classical and emerging antibiotic classes.