Antibiotic Resistance Enzyme on the Move

By: Jessica Robertson

Antibiotic resistance is increasingly common in the world of bacteria. Every day, more and more strains develop ways to avoid death by our medicines.
One gene recently isolated from a strain of E. coli is attributed to the increasing resistance to the class of antibiotics known as aminoglycosides. Aminoglycosides are a common class of antibiotic, including streptomycin for example. Though decreasing in popularity because of their occasional side effects, aminoglycosides are an entire important class of drug in our medical era, acting as a first line of defense in patients with diseases like tuberculosis and cystic fibrosis. The recently isolated gene, known as NpmA, is mobile, and it is responsible for encoding a protein that alters the ribosome (the cell’s protein factory), making the bacteria immune to the effects of the antibiotic. 
Many genes are passed from bacteria to bacteria. The mobility characteristic of the gene is not surprising. However, if more bacteria is unnecessarily exposed to the mobile gene, or unnecessarily exposed to the drug, the resistance of more bacteria could increase exponentially. 
Happily, since researchers have identified this mobile gene and its mechanism of creating resistance, investigation can proceed to identify steps to avoid resistance. 
Let this story serve as a reminder. Dispose properly of unused antibiotics by returning them to a pharmacy. Do not discontinue use of a course of antibiotics unless directed to do so by your doctor. And do not expose antibiotics to the water supply or sewage system. Let’s all do our part to decrease the occurrence of drug-resistant disease.