Antibiotic-induced lateral transfer of antibiotic resistance.
As do many temperate bacteriophages, integrating conjugative elements (ICEs) recruit the SOS DNA damage response to mobilize themselves from the bacterial chromosome and infect other cells. This transfers resistance to multiple antibiotics. Several commonly used antibiotics induce the SOS response, potentially hastening genetic change and the evolution to resistance of pathogenic populations. The use of such antibiotics should be reconsidered.
Hastings
P J
PJ
Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030-3411, USA. hastings@bcm.tmc.edu
Rosenberg
Susan M
SM
Slack
Andrew
A
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004249:DNA Damage; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D013014:SOS Response, Genetics / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents