Microbial Primer: Multidrug efflux pumps

Multidrug efflux pumps are molecular machines that sit in the bacterial cell membrane and pump molecules out from either the periplasm or cytoplasm to outside the cell. While involved in a variety of biological roles, they are primarily known for their contribution to antibiotic resistance by limiting the intracellular accumulation of antimicrobial compounds within bacteria. These transporters are often overexpressed in clinical isolates, leading to multidrug- resistant phenotypes. Efflux pumps are classified into several families based on their structure and understanding the characteristics of each family is important for the development of novel therapies to restore antibiotic potency.

Automated summary

Multidrug efflux pumps are molecular machines in the bacterial cell membrane that pump molecules out of the cell, contributing to antibiotic resistance. Understanding the characteristics of different families of efflux pumps is crucial for developing new therapies.