TY - JOUR
T1 - What are the origins of growing microbial resistance? Both Lamarck and Darwin were right
AU - Guevara Salazar, Juan Alberto
AU - Morán Díaz, Jessica Rubí
AU - Ramírez Segura, Enrique
AU - Trujillo Ferrara, José Guadalupe
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Introduction: Microorganisms of clinical importance frequently develop resistance to drug therapy, now a growing problem. The experience with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a representative example of increasing multi-drug resistance. To avoid reaching a crisis in which patients could be left without adequate treatment, a new strategy is needed. Anti-microbial therapy has historically targeted the mechanisms rather than origin of drug resistance, thus allowing microorganisms to adapt and survive. Areas covered: This contribution analyses the historical development (1943–2020) of the evolution of multi-drug resistance by M. tuberculosis strains in light of Darwin’s and Lamarck’s theories of evolution. Expert opinion: Regarding the molecular origin of microbial drug resistance, genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications are known to participate. The analysis of the history of drug resistance by M. tuberculosis evidences a gradual development of resistance to some antibiotics, undoubtedly due to random mutations together with natural selection based on environmental pressures (e.g., antibiotics), representing Darwin’s idea. More rapid adaptation of M. tuberculosis to new antibiotic treatments has also occurred, probably because of heritable acquired characteristics, evidencing Lamarck’s proposal. Therefore, microbial infections should be treated with an antibiotic producing null or low mutagenic activity along with a resistance inhibitor, preferably in a single medication.
AB - Introduction: Microorganisms of clinical importance frequently develop resistance to drug therapy, now a growing problem. The experience with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a representative example of increasing multi-drug resistance. To avoid reaching a crisis in which patients could be left without adequate treatment, a new strategy is needed. Anti-microbial therapy has historically targeted the mechanisms rather than origin of drug resistance, thus allowing microorganisms to adapt and survive. Areas covered: This contribution analyses the historical development (1943–2020) of the evolution of multi-drug resistance by M. tuberculosis strains in light of Darwin’s and Lamarck’s theories of evolution. Expert opinion: Regarding the molecular origin of microbial drug resistance, genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications are known to participate. The analysis of the history of drug resistance by M. tuberculosis evidences a gradual development of resistance to some antibiotics, undoubtedly due to random mutations together with natural selection based on environmental pressures (e.g., antibiotics), representing Darwin’s idea. More rapid adaptation of M. tuberculosis to new antibiotic treatments has also occurred, probably because of heritable acquired characteristics, evidencing Lamarck’s proposal. Therefore, microbial infections should be treated with an antibiotic producing null or low mutagenic activity along with a resistance inhibitor, preferably in a single medication.
KW - Antibiotics
KW - darwin
KW - drug resistance
KW - genetics
KW - infection
KW - lamarck
KW - mutations
KW - mycobacterium tuberculosis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85094669781&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/14787210.2021.1839418
DO - 10.1080/14787210.2021.1839418
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 33073640
AN - SCOPUS:85094669781
SN - 1478-7210
VL - 19
SP - 563
EP - 569
JO - Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy
JF - Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy
IS - 5
ER -