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Antibiotic resistance
A newly discovered gene gives infectious bacteria the ability to survive even the most potent antibiotics.
Biologists from Cornell University have discovered the bacterial gene mcr-9, which, once activated, makes bacteria resistant to an "antibiotic of last resort" called colistin, according to a study published in the newspaper mbio Tuesday. If the bacteria carrying the gene spread, doctors could be faced with a dangerous and possibly intractable superbug.
Colony of roaming genes
We will first give you the bad news: mcr-9 is very mobile, according to the study. Bacteria can exchange genetic information in their DNA, and the ease with which mcr-9 is transferable means that this resistance to antibiotics could quickly proliferate, making existing treatments almost useless.
"If you go to a hospital and this gene floats, it can be a problem. The gene is mobile. This is obvious, "said lead researcher Martin Wiedmann in a press release issued by the university. "In treatment, if colistin does not work, it could literally lead to patient death. If resistance to colistin spreads, many people will die. "
Preventive measures
The good news: identifying the gene responsible for colistin resistance means that doctors can detect it when admitting a patient to the hospital.
Measures like these could keep them mcr-9– Super-bacteria prevent spread as scientists try to develop new ways to kill them.
READ MORE: Scientists identify the antibiotic-resistant jerrion super-bacteria gene of last resort[[[[UPI]
More about antibiotic resistance: A new antibiotic is available in the city and we can create it in the laboratory
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