12 ms·

Forgive me in my ignorance of how antibacterials work, but wouldn't an equally plausible explanation be that these bacteria's simply haven't developed character

by lojack 10y ago

Forgive me in my ignorance of how antibacterials work, but wouldn't an equally plausible explanation be that these bacteria's simply haven't developed characteristics that modern antibacterial drugs target?

300bps 10y ago
The article was more click bait than science. Pretty disappointing coming from NPR.
mrob 10y ago
That might be true for narrow-spectrum antibiotics, but broad-spectrum antibiotics target fundamental features that evolved very early so they're universal in bacteria, eg. beta-lactams such as penicillin target the enzymes that bacteria use to make their cell walls. In this case resistance occurs by attacking the antibiotic itself, producing extra enzyme so there's some spare, or tweaking the enzyme so the antibiotic can't harm it. It would be a much bigger story if bacteria were found with a completely different method of cell wall construction.
Brockenstein 10y ago
Well they sensitive to man-made antibiotics which by definition are modern antibotic drugs, and substances they've had no exposure to. But it has resistance to many naturally occurring anti-biotics, which would suggest some exposure to develop resistance. And there's probably some telltale differences between acquired resistance and natural immunity because your structure is such that you're not vulnerable. I think if you had more knowledge about the subject you'd understand how your idea isn't as plausible as it sounds.
novia 10y ago
The idea is plausible, but testable. I am sure they've gone in and sequenced the DNA in this bacteria's genome and found the genes which confer antibiotic resistance, in addition to doing the lab tests showing that it can survive exposure. DNA sequencing is pretty much standard procedure now when looking at previously unknown organisms. Think about it. How would they even know that this organism is something new without comparing its DNA to the other DNA samples microbiologists have collected? If they hadn't done this, it would be a non-story.

by lojack 10y ago

300bps 10y ago

The article was more click bait than science. Pretty disappointing coming from NPR.

mrob 10y ago

That might be true for narrow-spectrum antibiotics, but broad-spectrum antibiotics target fundamental features that evolved very early so they're universal in bacteria, eg. beta-lactams such as penicillin target the enzymes that bacteria use to make their cell walls. In this case resistance occurs by attacking the antibiotic itself, producing extra enzyme so there's some spare, or tweaking the enzyme so the antibiotic can't harm it. It would be a much bigger story if bacteria were found with a completely different method of cell wall construction.

Brockenstein 10y ago

Well they sensitive to man-made antibiotics which by definition are modern antibotic drugs, and substances they've had no exposure to. But it has resistance to many naturally occurring anti-biotics, which would suggest some exposure to develop resistance. And there's probably some telltale differences between acquired resistance and natural immunity because your structure is such that you're not vulnerable. I think if you had more knowledge about the subject you'd understand how your idea isn't as plausible as it sounds.

novia 10y ago

The idea is plausible, but testable. I am sure they've gone in and sequenced the DNA in this bacteria's genome and found the genes which confer antibiotic resistance, in addition to doing the lab tests showing that it can survive exposure. DNA sequencing is pretty much standard procedure now when looking at previously unknown organisms. Think about it. How would they even know that this organism is something new without comparing its DNA to the other DNA samples microbiologists have collected? If they hadn't done this, it would be a non-story.