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Ancient Origins of Antibiotic Resistance in Microorganisms: Insights from Recent Review

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The emergence of antibiotic resistance genes presents a significant and escalating threat to global public health. A comprehensive review from scientists at Hohai University delves into the evolutionary origins, ecological factors contributing to the spread and proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes, and their broader environmental implications.

The evolution of antibiotic resistance genes is linked to unique physiological roles and ecological compartmentalization. Image credit: Xu et al., doi: 10.48130/biocontam-0025-0014.

Antibiotic resistance genes have become one of the most critical global challenges to public health, increasingly spreading across interconnected environments involving humans, animals, and the ecosystem.

These genes have been identified in some of the most pristine and extreme habitats on Earth, such as the depths of the Mariana Trench and ancient permafrost deposits, where they have remained unaffected by human-induced antibiotic exposure.

This pervasive distribution indicates that these bacteria evolved their antibiotic resistance capabilities millions of years before antibiotics were ever utilized in clinical or agricultural contexts.

“Antibiotic resistance is not a modern phenomenon,” states Guxiang You, Ph.D., corresponding author of the review.

“Many resistance genes initially evolved to enable bacterial survival under environmental stresses, long before the advent of antibiotics.”

“The pressing danger today is that human activities are disrupting natural barriers, facilitating the spread of these genes to harmful pathogens.”

“Many resistance genes stem from common bacterial genes that perform essential roles, such as the excretion of toxic substances or nutrient transport,” the researchers elucidated.

“Over time, these genes have acquired protective capabilities against antibiotics as a secondary feature.”

In natural ecosystems like soils and lakes, most resistance genes tend to remain confined within specific microbial communities, posing minimal risk to human health.

“The primary reason for this containment is genomic incompatibility,” they noted.

“Bacteria with significant genetic variations often cannot easily exchange and utilize resistance genes.”

“This natural genetic mismatch serves as a biological firewall, limiting the transmission of resistance across different species and habitats.”

“However, human actions are compromising this firewall.”

In their review, the authors emphasize how agriculture, wastewater discharge, urbanization, and global trade are increasing connectivity between once-isolated environments.

Antibiotics used in medicine and livestock create intense selection pressures, while fertilizer use, wastewater recycling, and pollution foster the interaction of bacteria from soil, animals, and humans.

These factors facilitate the infiltration of resistance genes into disease-causing microbes.

“Human-induced changes in habitat connectivity alter everything,” explained Dr. Yi Xu, the lead author.

“When bacteria from disparate environments come into repeated contact under antibiotic pressure, previously harmless resistance genes can transform into a significant public health menace.”

“Wastewater treatment plants have been identified as crucial hotspots where high bacterial populations and antibiotic residues promote genetic exchange.”

“Agricultural lands enriched with fertilizers also serve as conduits, enabling resistance genes to transfer from livestock to environmental bacteria and ultimately back to humans via food, water, or direct contact.”

Critically, scientists note that not all resistance genes pose equal threats.

High environmental abundance does not automatically equate to high risk.

Identifying which genes are mobile, compatible with human pathogens, and linked to diseases is vital for effective monitoring and control efforts.

Researchers advocate for ecosystem-centered approaches to combat antibiotic resistance.

Proposed strategies include minimizing unnecessary antibiotic use, enhancing wastewater treatment methods, meticulously managing fertilizers and sludge, and safeguarding relatively untouched ecosystems that offer a baseline for natural resistance levels.

“Antibiotic resistance extends beyond being solely a medical issue,” remarked Dr. Yu.

“It is deeply connected to ecological factors and our interactions with the environment.”

“To preserve antibiotics for future generations, we must maintain the integrity of our current ecosystems.”

“By incorporating evolutionary biology, microbial ecology, and environmental science, the One Health approach provides a pragmatic pathway to tackle one of the greatest health challenges we face today.”

Source: review published in the Online Journal on December 5, 2025, Biological Contaminants.

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Yi Shu et al. 2025. Evolutionary origins, environmental factors, and consequences of the proliferation and spread of antibiotic resistance genes: A “One Health” perspective. Biological Contaminants 1: e014; doi: 10.48130/biocontam-0025-0014

Source: www.sci.news

Breakthrough Antibiotic May Combat Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea

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gonorrhea

J. Marshall/Tribaleye Image/Alamy

Worldwide, drug-resistant gonorrhea is increasing, yet new antibiotics may provide a temporary solution until we face bacterial strains that cannot be treated at all, which heightens the risk of infertility.

Every year, it is estimated that sexually transmitted infections affect over 80 million individuals globally. Gonorrhea infections can spread to various body parts, including the anus, urethra, and genitals. Symptoms often include a burning sensation during urination and unusual discharge from genital areas. Untreated infections can lead to complications such as infertility and miscarriage.

Typically, the treatment for gonorrhea involves ceftriaxone injections, which remain effective against most strains. However, resistance is developing, and the World Health Organization reported that in 2024, about 5 percent of cases in 12 countries, including Thailand, South Africa, and Brazil, showed resistance to ceftriaxone—a sixfold increase since 2022.

When ceftriaxone fails, doctors typically resort to alternative antibiotics. However, it’s only a matter of time before completely untreatable strains appear. “We’re running out of options,” states Alison Luckey from the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership. “It’s been decades since a new treatment for gonorrhea has been approved.”

To combat this escalating issue, researchers found that gepotidacin, an antibiotic pill used for urinary tract infections, can effectively treat gonorrhea, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now reviewing the drug for U.S. approval. However, as bacteria evolve resistance to new medications, expanding treatment options is crucial, according to Lackey.

She and her team are currently studying another medication, zoliflodacin, specifically created to combat drug-resistant gonorrhea. In a study, 744 gonorrhea patients from the U.S., South Africa, Thailand, Belgium, and the Netherlands were randomly assigned to receive either zoliflodacin or a combination treatment that includes ceftriaxone and a second antibiotic, azithromycin.

After six days of testing through swabs of participants’ cervixes or urethras, results showed that zoliflodacin effectively cleared roughly 91 percent of infections, while standard treatment had a similar success rate of around 96 percent. Hence, no significant differences were observed between the two treatments, with side effects like headache and nausea being similar and short-lived in both groups.

Most of the 744 tested cases involved strains that were not resistant to ceftriaxone or azithromycin, but prior research indicated that zoliflodacin can effectively target N. gonorrhoeae strains resistant to all standard antibiotics. These findings suggest that zoliflodacin may represent a promising new strategy for treating gonorrhea, both as a first-choice treatment and when traditional options fail, as Lackey observes. “In areas with frequent resistance, early implementation as a primary treatment option could be beneficial,” she adds. Furthermore, since zoliflodacin is administered orally, it may provide a more convenient alternative than ceftriaxone, which some patients avoid due to needle aversion.

Researchers have already submitted findings to the FDA, with a ruling anticipated by December 15, according to Lackey.

If the FDA grants approval, other regions, including the UK, Europe, and Asia, could follow suit shortly, as noted by Charlotte Eve Short from Imperial College London, who was not part of the research.

Alongside ongoing vaccination efforts against gonorrhea, including the recent rollout of the Meningitis Group B vaccine in the UK, the introduction of these two new drugs could signify a pivotal moment in the battle against drug-resistant gonorrhea, according to Short. “This is excellent news,” she states. “While the population-level implications remain uncertain, our dual focus on prevention and treatment should help us significantly reduce resistance rates.”

topic:

  • antibiotics/
  • sexually transmitted diseases

Source: www.newscientist.com

Antibiotic use by men may help lower the incidence of bacterial vaginosis in women

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Light micrographs of neck smears or Pap smears from people with bacterial vaginosis

Dr. Y. Boussougan/CNRI/Science Photo Library

Women with bacterial vaginosis, a recurrent condition that increases the risk of pregnancy complications, can benefit from male sexual partners being treated with antibiotics, according to a trial that found that their risk of symptoms returning was nearly half.

“Treating male partners has led to the most important invasions to improve the rate of recurrence in women that we have seen for decades,” he says. Catriona Bradshaw He led the work at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) affects Approximately one-quarter of women of reproductive age all over the world. It occurs when “harmful” bacteria grow in excess in the vagina and cause vaginal discharge. Turn the greyish white and smell the fishthere are potentially serious complications. “It increases the risk for women to acquire a wide range of sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV, and complications during pregnancy, such as preterm birth and miscarriage,” says Bradshaw.

Doctors usually treat the condition with antibiotics in the form of creams that can be applied inside the vagina, but symptoms often recur because having a sex appears to reintroduce the problematic bacteria, Bradshaw says. “One in two people will regain their BV within three to six months of the recommended treatment regimen,” Bradshaw said.

To address this, Bradshaw and her colleagues recruited 137 monogamous women in Australia with bacterial vaginosis along with their male partners. All women took standard antibiotics for a week, but about half of their partners were given oral antibiotics and were told to apply antibiotic cream to their penis during the same period. The remaining men were not treated. None of the participants were transgender.

Three months later, 63% of women whose partners were not treated had recurrence symptoms, while only 35% of women who received antibiotics experienced a recurrence. “This definitely has a significant effect of becoming a valuable intervention for this group of women,” he says. Janneke van de Wijgert At Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

“I've seen a lot of women who have issues with BV ongoing. I'll definitely apply this new information to my clinical practice.” Christina Muzny University of Alabama at the University of Birmingham.

The team did not track all participants over the long term, but they regained contact after years and said they had no symptoms. “Last week I spoke to someone who had been exempt from BV for two years since they joined. These women had been recurring very much before the trial.” Lenka Vodstrcil At Monash University.

However, this approach does not work for women with casual sexual partners. There, it may be difficult to get people to adhere to taking antibiotics, says Van de Wijgert. Even in monogamous relationships, she says, men may not always be willing to take antibiotics. “We've seen this with condom use. This also reduces BV recurrence. It can be really difficult for women to have their male partners use condoms.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

How antibiotic resistance diminished the impact of the last pandemic

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Shutterstock/Katerina Con

When Gene Marrazzo was announced as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) last year, he became one of the world's leading public health policymakers, and the responsibilities are heavier than ever before for the institute's new director, who will succeed Anthony Fauci, who held the position during the coronavirus pandemic and became a household name.

After decades of working on HIV prevention and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as overseeing COVID-19 treatment interventions, Marrazzo is now responsible for NIAID's $6.6 billion annual budget and the future of infectious disease control in the United States.

This includes working with the institute's 21 laboratories across the country, leading the fight against Ebola and HIV, and spearheading the development of new vaccines, treatments, diagnostics and technologies.

Top of Marrazzo's to-do list is tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR), or drug-resistant superbugs, which are predicted to cause 10 million deaths a year and cost the global economy $1 trillion annually by 2050. In May, Britain's former chief medical officer warned that the rise of these pathogens could make pandemics seem “small” and that the problem is more serious than climate change.

Global warming is one of the factors contributing to the increase in drug-resistant bacteria, and changes in the climate conditions on Earth Salmonella Causes cholera Biblio To survive, we'll need to avoid our current antibiotic arsenal altogether. Here, Marrazzo outlines what we should probably fear most, and some developments we can expect in the near future.

Charlotte Lytton: In what ways…

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Potential of Marine Fungi: Harnessing Water Mushrooms to Combat Antibiotic Resistance and Pollution

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Microscopic marine fungi are abundant, with approximately 2000 species discovered to date.

Dayarathne MC et al. (2020)

Take a walk along the coast almost anywhere in the world and you'll see colorful patches of life growing on rocks, seawalls, and driftwood. These are lichens, a mutualistic partnership between fungi and algae. In the UK, this may include brightly colored orange marine lichens and yellowish coastal sunburst lichens, as well as many other Drabber species.

Lichens are typically thought of as terrestrial organisms, and in fact, the majority grow inland on rocks, tree trunks, leaves, and soil. However, coastal organisms are not creatures that accidentally washed ashore from land; they are marine-adapted species found only on or in close proximity to shores. Until recently, they were considered to be outliers in the almost entirely terrestrial fungal kingdom. No more. “Fungi are present in every marine ecosystem we observe,” says Michael Cunliffe of the University of Plymouth in the UK.

Research on marine fungi is currently rapidly increasing, but their exact role and importance in marine ecosystems remains a mystery. Nevertheless, there are high hopes that it could save us from the two great scourges of the 21st century: antibiotic resistance and plastic pollution.

What are marine fungi?

The existence of marine fungi has been known for many years. The earliest descriptions were published in his mid-19th century to his early 20th century, but these were largely ignored by mainstream mycologists. Most of the species discovered are found on the roots of seaweed that live near the coast.

Source: www.newscientist.com

New Strategy Revealed by Scientists to Combat Antibiotic Resistance

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The urgent crisis of antibiotic-resistant superbugs is being solved in groundbreaking research by the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Microbiotics. Their research focuses on disrupting the pathogen’s type 3 secretion system, providing a new approach to preventing infectious diseases. This strategy, supported by innovative luciferase-based technology, could pave the way for new drugs, improve our understanding of microbial infections, and lead to major advances in public health. Credit: SciTechDaily.com

The team is developing tests to identify new drugs that neutralize pathogens and provide substantial benefits to public health.

Antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” could overwhelm efforts to eradicate “superbugs” are an imminent public health crisis, with more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occurring each year, according to the CDC disease is occurring. Researchers around the world are struggling to address this challenge.

Recently, a collaborative team of researchers led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst and including scientists from biopharmaceutical companies microbiologypublished in a magazine ACS infection They said they have successfully learned how to interfere with a key mechanism used by pathogens to infect host cells, called the type 3 secretion system. Additionally, the researchers report that they have developed a test to identify the next generation of drugs that target this vulnerable cellular machinery and have real benefits for public health.

A typical strategy when treating microbial infections is to attack the pathogen with antibiotics, which work by entering and killing harmful cells. This is not as easy as it sounds. New antibiotics need to be water-soluble so they can easily pass through the bloodstream, and oil-based to cross the cell membranes that are the first line of defense of pathogenic cells. Of course, water and oil don’t mix. It is difficult to design a drug that has enough of both properties to be effective.

The type 3 secretion system relies on two proteins, PopB and PopD (red and blue), which form tunnels in the host cell wall.

That’s not the only problem. Antibiotics can’t cause any harm because pathogenic cells have developed something called an “efflux pump” that can recognize them and safely pump them out of the cell. If an antibiotic cannot overcome the efflux pumps and kills the cell, the pathogen will “remember” what that particular antibiotic is and create additional efflux pumps to deal with it efficiently. Develop. This means that they become resistant to that particular antibiotic.

One way forward is to find new antibiotics or combinations of them to stay one step ahead of superbugs.

“Or you could change your strategy,” says Alejandro Heuch, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and lead author of the paper. “I am a chemist and have always been interested in understanding how chemical molecules interact with living organisms. In particular, I understand the communication between pathogens and the host cells they try to invade. We have focused our research on molecules that make this possible. If we don’t try to kill the pathogen, there’s no chance that the pathogen will develop resistance. We’re just jamming that machine. The pathogen is still alive. It’s just ineffective, and the host has no chance of developing resistance. You have time to use your natural defenses to eliminate the pathogen.”

Heuck and his colleagues are particularly interested in a communication system called the type 3 secretion system, which so far is thought to be an evolutionary adaptation unique to pathogenic microorganisms. Understanding host-pathogen interactions.

Like pathogenic cells, host cells have thick and impermeable cell walls. To overcome these, pathogens first developed syringe-like machines that secreted two proteins known as PopD and PopB. Neither PopD nor PopB can break through the cell wall on their own, but together the two proteins can create a “translocon,” the equivalent of a tunnel through the cell membrane. Once the tunnel is established, the pathogenic cell can inject other proteins that serve to infect the host. This entire process is called the type 3 secretion system, and it cannot function without both PopB and PopD. “If you don’t try to kill the pathogen, there’s no chance of it developing resistance,” Huke says. We’re just jamming that machine. The pathogen is still alive. It’s just ineffective, and the host needs time to use its natural defenses to eliminate the pathogen.

Heuck and his colleagues realized that a type of enzyme called luciferase (similar to what makes lightning bugs glow at night) could be used as a tracer. They split the enzyme into two halves. Half of it was integrated into the PopD/PopB protein and the other half was integrated into the host cell.These engineered proteins and hosts can receive a large influx of different compounds. If the host cell suddenly glows, it means that PopD/PopB has broken through the cell wall and recombined her two halves of luciferase, causing it to glow. But what if the cells remain dark? “Then we can see which molecules disrupt the translocon,” Huke says.

Huke was quick to point out that his team’s research not only has obvious applications in the pharmaceutical and public health worlds, but also advances our understanding of exactly how microbes infect healthy cells. “We wanted to study how pathogens work, and suddenly we realized that our discoveries could help solve public health problems,” he said.

Reference: “Cell-based assay to determine translocon assembly of the type 3 secretion system in Pseudomonas aeruginosa using split luciferase” by Hanling Guo, Emily J. Geddes, Timothy J. Opperman and Alejandro P. Heuck , November 18, 2023 ACS infection.DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00482

This research was supported by the Massachusetts Amherst Applied Life Sciences Institute, a Healey Foundation grant, and National Institutes of Health.


Source: scitechdaily.com

New molecule developed by researchers to combat antimicrobial resistance – a game-changing antibiotic breakthrough

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Researchers at Maynooth University have used supramolecular chemistry to discover new molecules to fight drug-resistant bacteria. This new discovery suggests a potential new approach to antibiotic development and has important implications for public health.Credit: Ella Mar Studio

Researchers at Maynooth University have developed a new molecule designed to fight drug-resistant bacteria.

An international team including researchers from Maynooth University has developed a new molecule that has the potential to fight drug-resistant bacteria.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a phenomenon in which bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve over time and become immune to drugs. This resistance makes infections more difficult to cure and increases the risk of prolonged illness and death. With predictions that traditional antibiotics will largely lose their effectiveness by 2050 due to rising AMR levels, finding new ways to eradicate bacteria has become a key scientific priority.

Supramolecular chemistry: the key to fighting AMR

The research leveraged the principles of supramolecular chemistry, a niche scientific field that studies interactions between molecules, to achieve the breakthrough. Most importantly, this study discovered a molecule that is efficient at killing bacteria, yet has very low toxicity to healthy human cells.

New research published in prestigious journal chemistry, in conjunction with World AMR Awareness Week, which will be held from November 18th to 24th. This global campaign, run by the World Health Organization, aims to raise awareness and understanding of AMR in the hope of reducing the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections.

More than 1.2 million people, and likely millions more, died as a direct result of antibiotic-resistant infections in 2019, according to the most comprehensive estimate to date of the global impact of AMR. The research could pave the way for new approaches to tackling the problem, which kills more people each year than HIV/AIDS or malaria.

Luke Brennan, lead researcher in Maynooth University’s Department of Chemistry, said: “We are discovering new molecules and investigating how they bind to anions, negatively charged chemicals that are very important in the context of the biochemistry of life.” It’s laying a fundamental foundation that could help fight a variety of diseases, from cancer to cystic fibrosis.”

A “Trojan horse” approach to resistant bacteria

The study was based on the use of synthetic ion transporters, and the researchers found that the influx of salts (sodium and chloride ions) into bacteria can trigger a series of biochemical events that lead to bacterial cell death. was demonstrated for the first time. Strains of bacteria that are resistant to currently available antibiotics, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Study co-author Dr Robert Hermes from the Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health at Maynooth University said: “This study shows how our approach, a kind of ‘Trojan horse’ that causes salt influx into cells, can be used to effectively kill resistant bacteria. It eliminates bacteria in a way that counters known bacterial resistance methods.”

Bacteria work hard to maintain a stable concentration of ions within their cell membranes, and when this delicate balance is disrupted, normal cell function is wreaked havoc and the cell is no longer viable.

Elms continued, “These synthetic molecules bind to chloride ions, enveloping them in a ‘blanket of fat’ and making them easily soluble in bacterial membranes, taking the ions along with them and allowing them to function normally.” Disturbs the ion balance.” This study is a great example of fundamental knowledge of chemical fundamentals that has implications for an unmet need in human health research. ”

Professor Kevin Kavanagh, microbiologist in Maynooth University’s School of Biology, commented: This research is an example of chemists and biologists working together to pioneer the development of new antimicrobial agents with great promise.”

Such results pave the way for the potential development of anion transporters as viable alternatives to currently available antibiotics, which is urgently needed as the problem of AMR continues to grow. This is what has been done.

Reference: “Strong antimicrobial effects induced by disruption of chlorine homeostasis” Luke E. Brennan, Lokesh K. Kumawat, Magdalena E. Piatek, Airlie J. Kinross, Daniel A. McNaughton, Luke Marchetti, Conor Geraghty, Conor Wynne , by Hua Tong, Oisin N. Kavanagh, Finbarr O’Sullivan, Chris S. Hawes, Philip A. Gale, Kevin Kavanagh, Robert BP Hermes, August 23, 2023. chemistry.
DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2023.07.014

This research was supported by Science Foundation Ireland’s Pharmaceutical Research Center (SSPC) and the Irish Research Council (IRC).

Source: scitechdaily.com