2023-10-19 02:14:00
Bacteriophages of the Escherichia coli bacteria (1996-1998 AccuSoft Inc.)
Infections due to multidrug-resistant pathogens now represent one of the greatest global public health challenges of our generation. It is for this reason that the World Health Organization has declared them of utmost international importance. The pathogenic pathogen is MDR Escherichia coli, responsible for an alarming increase in the incidence of antimicrobial-resistant urinary tract and bloodstream infections.
Now, a group of specialists from the University of Birmingham, publishing their findings in PLOS Biologyrevealed that a particular strain of this bacteria, known as MDR ST131, can easily colonize new hosts, even if those hosts already have E. coli in their healthy intestine.
The international team, led by experts from the University, used a mouse model to help understand why E. coli strains that live in a healthy intestine are quickly outcompeted when faced with one that is resistant to multiple drugs.
“Antibiotic resistance has been hailed as one of the biggest health problems of our time by the World Health Organization. There are more problems ahead unless we better understand what is happening so we can stop further drug resistance in its tracks,” explained Alan McNally, senior author, Professor, Institute of Microbiology and Infections, University of Birmingham.
More serious infections caused by E. coli are usually treated with antibiotics, but growing resistance is alarming (CSIC)
McNally said, “Scientists have long tried to understand what makes certain types of these strains multidrug-resistant pathogens. It appears that extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli, which cause urinary tract and bloodstream infections, are especially successful in developing resistance and are therefore especially difficult to treat. “Our study provides evidence that certain types of E. coli are more likely to develop this process in the face of antibiotics than others.”
Escherichia coli is a type of bacteria commonly found in the environment, food, and intestines of people and animals. There are many different types. Although most strains are harmless, others can cause illnesses, such as diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and bloodstream infections, often fatal.
More serious infections are usually treated with antibiotics, but the rise of multidrug-resistant strains of E. coli is concerning. Their strength is opposed to many different types of antibiotics, which makes them very difficult to defeat.
Drug resistance is a growing problem, and resistant E. coli is a major concern (Getty)
Several previous works have shown that multidrug resistance alone is not enough to drive strains to full dominance. This latest study demonstrates that, regardless of multidrug resistance status, there are certain types of E. coli that will outcompete others to live in the human gut.
The research task was completed in parts. First, gut-dwelling E. coli, whether multidrug-resistant or not, was found to readily colonize a mammalian organ. In a second stage of the study, it was discovered that the strain most likely to overcome the medication efficiently displaced an E. coli already established in the mouse’s intestinal tract. The study provided further details to demonstrate that multidrug-resistant extraintestinal E. coli lineages have particular genetic differences that appear to give them a competitive advantage.
Successful E. coli strains must be able to spread between individuals or from the environment to individual hosts. The new study shows that a particular strain, known as MDR ST131, can simply colonize new hosts, even if those hosts already have E. coli in their healthy intestine.
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