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May 7 (UPI) – Scientists have discovered a highly mobile gene that helps superbugs resist colistin, one of the most effective last-resort antibiotics.
When more common antibiotics fail to eliminate a dangerous infection, doctors have only few options. Colistin, an antibiotic, is one of them. Unfortunately, researchers have identified a gene that could quickly make colistin unreliable.
Scientists discovered the mcr-9 gene by analyzing the bacterial genome of Salmonella and described the gene "jumping" this week in the journal mBio.
"The last-resort antibiotic has been labeled an absolute priority antibiotic by the United Nations World Health Organization, and the mcr-9 gene causes bacterial resistance," said Martin. Wiedmann, professor of food safety at Cornell University, in a newspaper Libération. "In the treatment, if colistin does not work, it can literally mean the death of patients.If the resistance to colistin spreads, many people will die."
Mcr-9 is a gene "mobilized against colistin", one of the genes discovered by scientists in recent years. Information on the newly identified gene has been updated in databases used by health professionals. The information can help scientists identify foodborne pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics, which can improve prevention and treatment efforts.
"It improves our ability to get early warning," said Wiedmann.
Because the gene is highly mobile and moves easily from one population or strain to another, health professionals need to take extra care in isolating bacteria carrying the mcr-9 gene.
As previous studies have shown, bacterial cells are highly mobile and can even behave individually. Studies have also shown that bacteria can travel in the air for thousands of kilometers. This mobility can allow antibiotic resistance genes to proliferate in strains of bacteria around the world.
Scientists and health professionals do their best to contain antibiotic resistance until researchers can come up with new types of antibiotics.
"If you go to a hospital and this gene floats, it can be a problem, the gene is removable, it jumps," said Wiedmann. "In a hospital setting, screening a patient for resistance allows doctors and nurses to isolate the patient and maintain biosecurity."
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