New gene editing tool may help reduce spread of antimicrobial resistance – Times of India
New Delhi: Scientists have made a new discovery. Gene editing tool Which can help reduce the spread. Antimicrobial resistance.
Antimicrobial resistance is a major global threat, accounting for approximately 5 million deaths annually as a result of failure of antibiotics to treat infections. World Health Organization.
Bacteria often develop resistance when resistance genes are transferred between hosts. One way this happens is through plasmids – circular strands DNA, which can spread easily between bacteria, and replicate rapidly. It can occur in our bodies, and in environmental settings, such as waterways.
Researchers at the University of Exeter in the UK used the CRISPR-Cas gene-editing system, which can target specific DNA sequences, and cut through them when they are encountered.
The team developed a plasmid that could specifically target the resistance gene for Gentamicin – a commonly used antibiotic.
In laboratory experiments, research published in the journal Microbiology found that the plasmid protects its host cell from developing resistance.
The researchers also found that the plasmid effectively targeted antimicrobial resistance genes in the hosts it transferred to, reversing their resistance.
“Antimicrobial resistance threatens to overtake Covid in terms of global death toll. We urgently need new ways to stop resistance spreading among hosts,” said study lead author David Walker of the University of Exeter. Sunderhoff said.
“Our technology is showing early promise for overcoming resistance in a wide range of different bacteria. Our next step is to perform experiments in more complex microbial communities,” Walker Sunderhoff said.
The researchers hope that one day this technology could provide a way to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance in environments such as sewage treatment plants, which are breeding grounds for resistance.
Antimicrobial resistance is a major global threat, accounting for approximately 5 million deaths annually as a result of failure of antibiotics to treat infections. World Health Organization.
Bacteria often develop resistance when resistance genes are transferred between hosts. One way this happens is through plasmids – circular strands DNA, which can spread easily between bacteria, and replicate rapidly. It can occur in our bodies, and in environmental settings, such as waterways.
Researchers at the University of Exeter in the UK used the CRISPR-Cas gene-editing system, which can target specific DNA sequences, and cut through them when they are encountered.
The team developed a plasmid that could specifically target the resistance gene for Gentamicin – a commonly used antibiotic.
In laboratory experiments, research published in the journal Microbiology found that the plasmid protects its host cell from developing resistance.
The researchers also found that the plasmid effectively targeted antimicrobial resistance genes in the hosts it transferred to, reversing their resistance.
“Antimicrobial resistance threatens to overtake Covid in terms of global death toll. We urgently need new ways to stop resistance spreading among hosts,” said study lead author David Walker of the University of Exeter. Sunderhoff said.
“Our technology is showing early promise for overcoming resistance in a wide range of different bacteria. Our next step is to perform experiments in more complex microbial communities,” Walker Sunderhoff said.
The researchers hope that one day this technology could provide a way to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance in environments such as sewage treatment plants, which are breeding grounds for resistance.