Alongside what can appear as a never-ending cycle of resistance, bacteria also have this ‘nifty’ way of making non-resistant cells, resistant! As if they weren’t annoying enough already. The process is called horizontal gene transfer (shown in the cartoon). Here, resistant bacterial cells will conjugate to (make a link with) a non-resistant bacterial cell. This enables a path to form between the two cells and they can transfer genetic data (i.e.share their resistant genes).
Another way in which bacteria achieve resistance is again by mutations, which this time make enzymes (nature’s catalyst (enables a reaction to occur)). The bacteria learn what the antibiotic looks like and will produce enzymes which can break down the antibiotic when they make contact with it. After all, bacteria are living things and have the ability to learn as we do.
How do we overcome resistance, I hear you ask? In order to achieve this, research is underway into new antibiotics which aim to address different bacterial processes than those currently targeted. A novel approach however, is looking to go back to basics and utilise something that has shown antibacterial properties for thousands of years: metals. Silver is used regularly in plasters to prevent bacterial infections in cuts (etc.) so now, scientists are investigating the use of silver in antibiotics. The exact mechanism is not known, but it is thought that as metals are not naturally found in a bacteria’s environment, bacterial cells are not able to form resistance towards them (yet!) and thus, silver can protect against bacterial infections.
To summarise, antibacterial resistance is one of the largest problems the World has to currently tackle. With the rise of resistant infections such as MRSA, super gonorrhoea, and bacterial meningitis, it is of the utmost importance for new antibiotic drugs to be founded, addressing different mechanisms than they already do. However more urgently needed, is the education of the public to ensure we all understand what resistance is, why it happens and thus, why it is so vital we only use antibiotics when absolutely necessary and use them correctly.
References
1) World Health Organisation