Understanding how ABR evolves and spreads is key to improving antibiotic treatment strategies.
Date: Sep 13, 2109
Source: Science
Author: R. Craig MacLean, Alvaro San Millan
Excerpt: “Two main approaches have been used to understand the processes driving the spread of ABR. Clinical studies have focused on DNA sequencing to identify the genes underlying ABR and the epidemiological dynamics of resistance. Experimental studies have focused on simple in vitro model systems to investigate how ABR changes in response to defined and controlled selective pressures, often supported by mathematical models. However, it has become increasingly clear that there are substantial gaps between these two approaches. Experimental studies have not placed enough emphasis on understanding the evolution of successful strains that have driven the rise of resistance in the clinic. To bridge these gaps and identify strategies to counteract ABR, experimental studies should shift focus toward investigating clinically relevant resistance genes and work with more realistic infection models.”
