#1: A little OmpU into the equation: Uncovering the roots of antibiotic resistance

By understanding how mutations occur, microbiologists have the potential tools to better understand and develop therapeutics to combat resistant infections. How antimicrobial resistance occurs in bacterial populations and the pathways leading to these new traits remains poorly understood. A new finding brings understanding the mechanisms a little closer.

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University of Central Florida scientists, led by Dr. Salvador Almagro-Moreno, report they have unpicked the evolutionary origins of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria. This is based on research into Vibrio cholerae. The study of this bacterium involved examining genetic variants of a protein found in bacterial membranes called OmpU.

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OmpU is a multimeric, cation selective outer membrane protein of Vibrio and related species that non-covalently interact with peptidoglycan layer. OmpU is a key adhesion protein and an important virulence factor for successful colonization of Vibrio species into hosts.

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Through a mix of computational and molecular approaches, it was discovered that OmpU mutations in the cholera bacteria lead to resistance to numerous antimicrobial agents.

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By comparing resistant and antibiotic sensitive variants, the researchers were able to identify specific parts of OmpU associated with the emergence of antibiotic resistance. It was also discovered that the genetic material encoding these variants, along with associated traits, can be passed between bacterial cells, increasing the risk of spreading antimicrobial resistance in bacterial populations under antibiotic pressure.

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The research may help to develop therapeutics to combat resistant infections. However, such mechanisms cannot be examined in isolation. It is additionally important to understand environmental factors such as pollution and warming of the oceans, which contribute to the pressures that drive resistance through increased genetic diversity.

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Almagro-Moreno’s study has been published in the journal PLOS Genetics, titled “Allelic diversity uncovers protein domains contributing to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.”

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Please check out the book ‘Antimicrobials: Past, Present, and Future’ for more cutting edge research about antimicrobials and resistance mechanisms: https://www.amazon.com/Antimicrobials-Present-Future-Tim-Sandle-ebook/dp/B0BGJLL7QG/ref=sr_1_16

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