Reference no: EM132391360
Recent years have seen a significant increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Perhaps the best known is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics (e.g., penicillin, oxacillin). The emergence of more and more resistant organisms underscores not only the need for responsible use of antimicrobials, but also the importance of discovering new antibiotics that can treat infections in new ways. You are a microbiologist working in the drug discovery and development (D&D) group at a pharmaceutical company. Drug discovery refers to the actual process of identifying compounds with pharmaceutical potential. While this represents a significant task, it is only the first step in many on the way to generating a new antibiotic. When promising antimicrobial compounds are discovered, development of the antibiotic for commercial use begins. Drug development refers to all of the events that must occur following discovery to move ahead with the drug as a potential therapeutic. This includes everything from the extraction and large-scale production of the drug to designing effective methods of delivery. As you answer the following questions, imagine yourself working as part of the D&D team to identify and validate potential new antibiotics.
Part A
The project that you are working on was initiated in response to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance in both hospital and community settings. Even in the early discovery and development phase, it is important to think ahead to try to minimize the likelihood that bacteria will be able to evolve resistance to your new drug. Understanding how resistance emerges is an essential part of this process.
Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria?
a) Resistance can emerge due to mutations in chromosomal genes.
b) Due to natural genetic variation within populations, resistant bacteria will be present--even in the absence of antibiotic.
c) The exposure of bacteria to an antibiotic causes the bacteria to produce resistance genes.
d) Bacteria can acquire plasmids conferring resistance through horizontal gene transfer.