domingo, 28 de diciembre de 2014

Molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance : Nature Reviews Microbiology : Nature Publishing Group

Figure 1: Intrinsic mechanisms of resistance.

The figure shows an overview of intrinsic resistance mechanisms. The example shown is of β-lactam antibiotics targeting a penicillin-binding protein (PBP). Antibiotic A can enter the cell via a membrane-spanning porin protein, reach it…

Molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance

Nature Reviews Microbiology

13,

42–51

(2015)

doi:10.1038/nrmicro3380

Published online: 01 December 2014

Abstract

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are difficult or impossible to treat are becoming increasingly common and are causing a global health crisis. Antibiotic resistance is encoded by several genes, many of which can transfer between bacteria. New resistance mechanisms are constantly being described, and new genes and vectors of transmission are identified on a regular basis. This article reviews recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms by which bacteria are either intrinsically resistant or acquire resistance to antibiotics, including the prevention of access to drug targets, changes in the structure and protection of antibiotic targets and the direct modification or inactivation of antibiotics.