Peculiar Sex Lives of Bacteria Cause Antibiotic Resistance

The strange sex lives of disease-causing bacteria called pneumococcus may be the reason they become resistant to antibiotics, according to a new study by Imperial College London. Pneumococcus bacteria cause pneumonia and bacterial meningitis, killing about a million people every year.

From Science Daily:

Dr William Hanage, the lead author of the study from Imperial College London, said: “Bacteria have very peculiar sex lives. When humans have kids they mix up their DNA with that of their partner, but bacteria can pick up DNA from all sorts of places, even other species. Our research shows that bacteria which do this, that is undergo sex, with their own and other species are more likely to develop resistance to antibiotics, protecting them from being killed by these drugs.”

Bacteria reproduce asexually, by splitting in two to produce identical ‘daughter’ cells. Sometimes, however, they can take up DNA from other bacteria or the environment, and incorporate it into their own genome. This mixing process, called recombination, is what happens in animals during sexual reproduction. It is most common between bacteria of the same species but, unlike animals, bacteria can sometimes undergo recombination with different species of bacteria, which means the daughter cells end up with DNA from those species.

Some combinations of DNA help bacteria to survive better. It appears that antibiotic resistant strains of pneumococcus are more likely to mix up their DNA in this way, and so are more likely to hit upon the adaptation which helps them resist antibiotic treatment.

Researchers are hoping they can use this knowledge to fight the development of drug-resistant bacteria. And it’s a good thing, too – when it comes to those tough little suckers, we need all the help we can get before we have some massive problems on our hands.

Link [Science Daily]
Photo credit: National Library of Medicine

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