Environmental pollutants induce noninherited antibiotic resistance to polymyxin B in Escherichia coli.

Aim: The mechanisms behind antibiotic resistance by bacteria are important to create alternative molecules.

Objective

This study focuses on the impact of environmental pollutants on bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Materials & methods: The effect of various environmental pollutants on noninherited bacterial resistance to antibiotics was examined.

Results

The tolerance to the polymyxin-B antibiotic was shown to be conferred to Escherichia coli, by pretreatment with subinhibitory concentrations of environmental toxicants. The cell survival to a sublethal dosage of antibiotics was tested. Exposure to low concentrations of toxic compounds (500 ppb copper, 2% [v/v] ethanol or 0.5 μg/ml trimethoprim) stimulated the bacterial heat shock systems and led to increased tolerance to polymyxin B.

Conclusion

Environmental pollutants induce a temporary bacterial noninheritable resistance to antibiotic.