Question

In what ways is this antibiotic resistance acquired specifically? What genetic elements does it have and what resistance mechanisms do these confer?

Answer 1

Antibiotic resistance acquired specifically by a genetic mutation or by acquiring resistance from another bacterium.

Bacteria acquire antibiotic resistance or become pathogenic by horizontal gene transfer.

Horizontal gene transfer is a mode of sharing of genes, it can occur both between bacteria of the same species and between different species and by several different mechanisms.

Through Conjugation-where bacteria transfer genes through sex pili

Through transduction-as the bacteriophages infect bacteria, they pick up genes from one bacteria to the other

Transformation: a process in which bacteria take in DNA from the environment directly.

The resistance mechanisms that confer Antibiotic resistance to bacteria are:

Some mutations enable bacteria to produce enzymes that inactivate antibiotics, while other mutations eliminate the cell target that the antibiotic attacks. Some other mutations close the entry of antibiotics into the cell, or develop mechanisms that export the antibiotic out of the cell. If those new mutations are transferred among the bacterial populations, the Antibiotic resistance is spread.