The research published in Nature Communications shows that bacteria can modify their ribosomes when exposed to antibiotics, potentially leading to antibiotic resistance. Escherichia coli was studied after exposure to streptomycin and kasugamycin, which target ribosomes to prevent protein production. The study found that the bacteria developed new ribosomes lacking chemical tags where antibiotics bind, making them more resistant. This new survival strategy could challenge current antibiotic treatments. Advanced nanopore sequencing technology was used to make this discovery, highlighting the importance of understanding bacterial mechanisms to develop new strategies and drugs to combat antibiotic resistance.
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Bacteria modify their ribosomes in response to the antibiotics
