A study led by the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) has described a mechanism of 'crosstalk' between different species of human gut bacteria and a scientifically relevant plasmid, aiding in the understanding of superbugs' resistance to antibiotics.
Bacteria can naturally become resistant to antibiotics, but misuse of these treatments has led to an increase in resistant strains. Various mechanisms enable bacteria to acquire antibiotic resistance genes contained in plasmids.
Plasmids, which are small circular DNA molecules, can be transferred between bacteria, spreading useful genes, such as those for antibiotic resistance. The 'crosstalk' interaction revealed by the research demonstrates that a gene present in a plasmid can manipulate bacterial chromosomal genes for its benefit.
The study, conducted in collaboration with teams from the Centro de Investigación Biológica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBER-ESP) of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, and the Institut Pasteur (Paris, France), and published in 'Nature Communications', emphasizes the importance of basic research aimed at understanding the evolution of antibiotic resistance to develop new strategies to combat it.
Project leader Álvaro San Millán explained that the entry of plasmids disrupts bacterial biology, forcing the bacteria to exert extra effort and modulate its own genes, effectively 'turning off' or 'turning on' genes according to its needs.
Researchers Laura Toribio and Alicia Calvo-Villamañán detailed the study process, utilizing computational tools to identify important bacterial genes for the plasmid. Once identified, they analyzed these genes individually using genetic techniques to confirm each one's utility.
Ariadna Fernández Calvet, co-leader of the study at CNB-CSIC, stated, 'This study underscores the necessity of incorporating different methodologies in scientific research and highlights the crucial value of studies conducted on bacteria isolated from human patients. These investigations are essential for understanding how antibiotic resistances evolve and spread in the human host.'