One of the biggest threats to our modern world’s health and food security is the increase of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria change to resist antibiotics that are used to effectively treat them. Even though antibiotic resistance can occur naturally, the prevalence of resistance is being propagated by the misuse of antibiotics all across the world. 

The improper use of antibiotics is now creating further challenges in the medical field. Some infections that were once easily controlled by antibiotics are becoming harder to treat as antibiotics have an increasingly reduced impact due to the resistance. For example, diseases such as Gonorrhea, pneumonia, salmonellosis, and tuberculosis, are becoming harder to treat due to increasing antibiotic resistance.

 

The bacteria that cause infections can be categorized into two types, Gram-positive and Gram-negative. While Gram-positive bacteria have a rigid and tough cell wall that surrounds the membrane, Gram-negative bacteria have an outer membrane that surrounds the thin cell wall. The bacterial periplasm refers to the space situated between the outer membrane and the cytoplasmic membrane, and this space acts as an extra layer to protect Gram-negative bacteria from substances attempting to enter into the bacterial cell. Throughout the decades, scientists have been developing antibiotics to induce lysis of bacteria cells. Antibiotics have served their purpose until now, but due to the misuse of antibiotics, bacteria that cause infection are becoming resistant to them, further creating different challenges. 

So, How does Bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics? First, through the Outer membrane protection. Bacteria possess porins in their outer membrane, which can be exploited for therapeutic purposes. However, this membrane also serves as a defense mechanism against invading molecules. Second, the efflux pumps. These membrane proteins pump antibiotic molecules out of bacterial cells, reducing intracellular antibiotic concentrations and contributing to resistance. Third, modification of Target molecules. Bacteria can modify their target sites, such as ribosomal subunits or penicillin-binding proteins, making antibiotics less effective. This can occur through spontaneous mutations, reducing the ability of antibiotics to bind to their targets. Fourth, Complex Mutations. Some bacteria develop resistance through modifications to multiple molecules, such as enzymes involved in DNA replication, leading to reduced effectiveness of antibiotics like fluoroquinolone.

 

Then how can antibiotic resistance be combated? Bacteria have evolved various ways to resist antibiotics that target their weak spot, the peptidoglycan biosynthetic machinery. However, recent years have brought significant progress in understanding how these antibiotics work and in developing new drugs to counter resistance. Structural biology will continue to be crucial in finding treatments that can bypass bacterial resistance mechanisms. 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited 
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‌Nikolic, P. and Mudgil, P. (2023). The Cell Wall, Cell Membrane and Virulence Factors of Staphylococcus aureus and Their Role in Antibiotic Resistance. Microorganisms, 11(2), p.259. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11020259.
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