Researchers at the Telethon Kids Institute have identified a previously unknown strategy that allows bacteria to dodge antibiotics. The findings appear in Nature Communications and illuminate how these microbes adapt to resist treatment.
Bacteria can alter the genes that govern how they respond to antibiotics. Resistance strategies include breaking down antibiotics, limiting how much antibiotic enters the bacterial cell, or changing target systems so drugs lose effectiveness. Such changes help bacteria survive exposures that would normally halt growth or kill them.
Some antibiotics, such as sulfamethoxazole, work by stopping the production of folic acid, a nutrient essential for bacterial growth. In a surprising twist, group A streptococci can obtain folic acid derivatives from their human host, effectively bypassing this blockade. Researchers identified a gene named thfT that appears to enable this acquisition, linking gene function to the ability to access host resources for growth.
Group A streptococci are commonly associated with throat infections and skin infections, but they can also trigger more serious systemic conditions. In rare cases, these bacteria contribute to complications such as scarlet fever and toxic shock-like syndromes, underscoring the need to monitor evolving resistance patterns and disease manifestations over time.
The rise of antibiotic resistance is partly driven by repeated and widespread use of these medications. When bacteria accumulate multiple defense mechanisms, standard treatments may fail, contributing to significant mortality and global health challenges. The spread of resistance is not confined to clinical settings; it can be observed in wildlife and environmental contexts as well, highlighting the importance of broad surveillance and prudent antibiotic management. Continued scientific inquiry into resistance mechanisms helps inform clinical decisions, including selecting alternative therapies and guiding stewardship practices to preserve antibiotic effectiveness for future generations.