Molecular Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance - Part II

Abstract

All antibiotic resistance mechanisms in bacteria ultimately work by preventing, or mitigating the effects of, an antibacterial inhibitor binding to its cellular target; however, there are a variety of ways by which this effect is achieved. Antibiotic resistance can result from enzymatic alteration of an antibiotic molecule to reduce its antibacterial activity, changes in the nature of the antibiotic target that reduce its susceptibility to the agent, or prevention of an antibiotic reaching its target in sufficient concentration to achieve an antibacterial effect. This chapter provides an overview of these different types of antibiotic resistance mechanisms, illustrated with key examples foun..