Researchers from Imperial College London have identified mechanisms by which certain bacteria evade antibiotics, thereby indicating avenues for enhanced risk evaluation and the possible implementation of ‘microbiome therapeutics’ to reestablish gut equilibrium and counter antibiotic-resistant infections.
When antibiotics exterminate beneficial bacteria in the gut, antibiotic-resistant bacteria gain access to supplementary nutrients, allowing them to flourish.
A recent study spearheaded by Imperial College London scientists could lay the foundation for refined methods of patient risk assessment and the formulation of ‘microbiome therapeutics,’ an emerging class of treatments designed to counter antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains.
While some antibiotics are designed to target specific bacterial strains, others are ‘broad-spectrum,’ capable of eradicating a diverse array of bacteria, including both harmful pathogens responsible for infections and beneficial bacteria residing in our digestive systems.
“Comprehending this phenomenon allows us to formulate novel treatments that limit bacterial proliferation, thereby diminishing the frequency of antibiotic-resistant infections,” stated Alexander Yip.
Carbapenems, categorized as broad-spectrum antibiotics, are potent but often administered as a final recourse due to their detrimental effects on beneficial bacteria. Certain pathogenic bacteria within the Enterobacteriaceae class are even impervious to carbapenems, including particular strains of E. coli. These pathogenic bacteria initially colonize the gut but may disseminate to other parts of the body, resulting in challenging-to-treat conditions such as sepsis or recurring urinary tract infections.
The current study elucidates how these resistant strains prosper post-antibiotic treatment, establishing a ‘reservoir’ of disease-causing bacteria within the gut. The findings were disseminated on August 22 in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
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More Nutritional Access, Decreased Inhibition
To assess the antibiotic impact, the research team conducted tests on human fecal samples in a laboratory environment, in conjunction with experiments on mice and laboratory analyses of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).
Bacterial strains in the gut, whether beneficial or harmful, require nutrients for growth and replication. The experiments revealed that the eradication of beneficial bacteria by antibiotics freed up additional nutrients, thereby diminishing competition and allowing pathogenic bacteria to thrive.
The researchers also demonstrated that the annihilation of beneficial bacteria led to a reduction in metabolites, the byproducts that usually inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, thereby providing further advantage to the pathogenic strains.
Alexander Yip, the first author of the study and a member of the Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology within the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial, said: “Gaining insights into how antibiotics contribute to the growth of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the intestinal tract enables us to devise new treatments to limit their proliferation, thereby resulting in a decline in antibiotic-resistant infections.”
Future Directions in Microbiome Therapeutics
The team is now embarking on research to interfere with this bacterial growth cycle. Initially, they intend to identify beneficial bacteria capable of outperforming pathogenic strains, particularly in nutrient competition and the production of inhibitory metabolites.
Armed with this information, they aspire to develop ‘microbiome therapeutics,’ explained lead researcher Dr. Julie McDonald, also affiliated with the Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology. “When a patient is undergoing antibiotic treatment, we could administer inhibitory metabolites to limit the proliferation of resistant strains. Post-antibiotic treatment, we could reintroduce a consortium of beneficial gut bacteria to aid in the recovery of the gut microbiome, replenish nutrient levels, and reestablish the production of inhibitory metabolites.”
These microbiome-based treatments could potentially mitigate the risk of patients acquiring invasive antibiotic-resistant infections, reduce the incidence of recurring CRE infections in patients with chronic colonization, and curb the transmission of CRE to vulnerable patients.
In the near term, the study’s outcomes could assist clinicians in reducing the likelihood of patients harboring CRE reservoirs in their digestive systems. For instance, medical professionals might opt to refrain from prescribing antibiotics that enrich specific nutrients and deplete particular metabolites. Additionally, screening fecal samples for these elements could help identify patients at heightened risk for CRE colonization.
Reference: “Antibiotics Facilitate the Intestinal Proliferation of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae by Augmenting Nutritional Availability and Depleting Microbial Byproducts,” authored by Alexander Y. G. Yip, Olivia G. King, Oleksii Omelchenko, Sanjana Kurkimat, Victoria Horrocks, Phoebe Mostyn, Nathan Danckert, Rohma Ghani, Giovanni Satta, Elita Jauneikaite, Frances J. Davies, Thomas B. Clarke, Benjamin H. Mullish, Julian R. Marchesi, and Julie A. K. McDonald, published on August 22, 2023, in Nature Communications.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40872-z
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
What is the main finding of the researchers from Imperial College London?
The primary discovery is that certain antibiotics, particularly broad-spectrum ones, kill beneficial bacteria in the gut. This provides antibiotic-resistant bacteria with additional nutrients, enabling them to thrive and multiply, thereby creating a ‘reservoir’ of disease-causing bacteria.
What are ‘microbiome therapeutics’?
Microbiome therapeutics are emerging treatments aimed at restoring the balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut. They could potentially interfere with the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by reintroducing beneficial bacteria and inhibitory metabolites into the gut environment.
Who led the research study?
The research study was spearheaded by scientists at Imperial College London, with Alexander Yip cited as the first author. Dr. Julie McDonald, also from the Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, is mentioned as the lead researcher.
What types of antibiotics are particularly problematic according to the study?
Broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as carbapenems, are identified as problematic. These antibiotics are potent but non-discriminatory, killing both harmful pathogens and beneficial bacteria, thereby facilitating the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
What is the significance of the term ‘reservoir’ in the study?
The term ‘reservoir’ refers to the concentration of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that multiplies in the gut after the use of antibiotics. This concentration serves as a source from which these bacteria can spread to other parts of the body, causing difficult-to-treat infections.
Where were the findings published?
The findings of the study were published in the scientific journal Nature Communications on August 22, 2023.
How did the researchers conduct the experiments?
The research team used a multi-faceted approach involving tests on human fecal samples in the lab, experiments on mice, and laboratory analyses of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).
What are the future applications of this research?
The study opens avenues for developing microbiome therapeutics that could reduce the risk of antibiotic-resistant infections. It also suggests improved methods for patient risk assessment, potentially guiding clinicians in their choice of antibiotics and post-treatment care.
Could this study be useful for medical professionals?
Yes, the study could help clinicians make more informed decisions about antibiotic prescriptions. It could also guide them in screening fecal samples to identify patients at increased risk of developing antibiotic-resistant bacterial colonization in the gut.
What are inhibitory metabolites?
Inhibitory metabolites are waste products produced by beneficial bacteria that naturally restrict the growth of pathogenic bacteria. The study suggests that the depletion of these metabolites when beneficial bacteria are killed off facilitates the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
More about Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
- Imperial College London Official Website
- Nature Communications Journal
- Overview of Antibiotic Resistance
- Introduction to Microbiome Therapeutics
- Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology at Imperial College London
- Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Information
- Medical Research on Gut Health and Antibiotics
9 comments
Wow, this is some heavy stuff. So, antibiotics are basically giving superbugs a buffet? Gotta think twice before popping those pills now.
Not my area, but it sounds like a problem that’s been ticking like a time bomb. So what’s next? Do we need a whole new set of drugs?
Truly groundbreaking research! Never thought that our own medicine could be backfiring this badly. Kudos to Imperial College for shedding light on this.
A bit unsettling to see how our frontline drugs can do more harm than good sometimes. The medical community needs to look into this asap.
is this even getting enough attention from policymakers? Looks like we need some urgent actions, not just studies.
Impressive, but how is this gonna impact the pharma industry? if antibiotics are problematic, what’s the alternative?
This is scary but important to know. Is anyone working on natural alternatives to antibiotics? I always thought they’re not the best for our system.
Interesting. Makes me wonder if blockchain could somehow be used for tracking antibiotic resistance. Just thinking out loud here.
The methodology sounds robust. Multi-faceted approach with human samples, mice, and lab tests. Hope they come up with a solution soon.