Journal
BIOESSAYS
Volume 43, Issue 8, Pages -Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100043
Keywords
antimicrobial resistance; epigenetic mechanisms; evolution; gene expression noise; non-genetic heterogeneity
Categories
Funding
- NewFrontiers in Research Fund-Exploration Government of Canada [2019-01208]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Non-genetic mechanisms can contribute to antimicrobial resistance and interact with genetic mechanisms to enhance pathogen resistance. Cellular heterogeneity and gene expression fluctuations play a role in drug resistance at different timescales.
Non-genetic forms of antimicrobial (drug) resistance can result from cell-to-cell variability that is not encoded in the genetic material. Data from recent studies also suggest that non-genetic mechanisms can facilitate the development of genetic drug resistance. We speculate on how the interplay between non-genetic and genetic mechanisms may affect microbial adaptation and evolution during drug treatment. We argue that cellular heterogeneity arising from fluctuations in gene expression, epigenetic modifications, as well as genetic changes contribute to drug resistance at different timescales, and that the interplay between these mechanisms enhance pathogen resistance. Accordingly, developing a better understanding of the role of non-genetic mechanisms in drug resistance and how they interact with genetic mechanisms will enhance our ability to combat antimicrobial resistance.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available