Antibiotic-loving bacteria don't just resist drugs, they get a kick out of them
Developing antibiotic resistance has been found to give the disease-causing bacterium E. coli an additional boost, making it grow faster and become fitter after repeated exposure the antibiotic doxycycline.
The mutations that give E. Coli resistance to doxycycline also made them reproduce faster and grow colonies three times larger than ordinary, non-resistant E. Coli. The research is published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.
The researchers exposed E. Coli to eight rounds of antibiotics over four days. In that period, the bacteria gained a number of mutations. One of the mutations was linked to antibiotic resistance, giving the bacteria more pumps to remove the drug from the cell.
The second mutation was to delete a large section of its genome that is normally involved in helping the bacteria coat a surface by forming a 'biofilm'. This section of DNA is actually the remnants of a virus, which causes the cell to split and spill its contents, helping other cells to grow nearby to form a film.
The E. Coli in the study were grown in a liquid culture, in a similar environment to the human bloodstream. Here, without the need to form a biofilm, the E. Coli cut out this section of DNA – which makes up 4% of its genome – when exposed to doxycycline, allowing it to devote its energy to growing faster and forming larger colonies instead. Even when the exposure to doxycycline was stopped, the bacteria did not lose this newly-gained trait.
"We didn't anticipate the viral change at all," study author Robert Beardmore of the University of Exeter told IBTimes UK. "That was much stronger than the pump mutation in evolutionary terms. We saw more strength with selection and a faster change on quite a large chunk of the genome."
This property was not unique to doxycycline, and similar features were found in two different classes of antibiotics, Beardmore said. However, only certain strains of E. Coli gained these mutations when exposed to the antibiotic.
"It's not every antibiotic and it's not every E. Coli, and certainly not every bacterium. But it is pretty strange that that feature is there," Beardmore said. "There's something special about the way doxycycline is inhibiting the cell that causes these features."
Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used for a number of infections, such as chlamydia, Lyme disease, pneumonia and acne. It's also used as a preventative treatment for malaria, and can be taken for months for a trip to a country where the disease is prevalent. This widespread use means the antibiotic can be found in the environment, such as in rivers and soil.
If E. Coli is exposed to doxycycline in the environment, it could quickly develop the mutations to grow larger colonies as well as becoming resistant to the antibiotic, Beardmore said. However, he said that doxycycline should not be dropped as a treatment for various kinds of infection.
"Doxycycline may be a perfectly good drug to treat a range of bacteria with. But when E. Coli comes into contact with it in a river or field, if it's got the right kind of genome then you'll see these effects and doxycycline will boost the growth."
Source: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/antibiotic-loving-bacteria-dont-just-resist-drugs-they-get-kick-out-them-1603881
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Monday, May 18, 2026
How Diltiazem Helps With Anal Fissures
Dealing with anal fissures can take a real toll on daily life, affecting sleep, work performance, and overall well-being. While many people try to manage symptoms with lifestyle adjustments alone, medication often plays a central role in achieving meaningful relief, particularly when symptoms are moderate to severe or recurring. Antihypertensive medications work through several different mechanisms, and many patients eventually require two or more drugs to achieve adequate blood pressure control. Major classes include ACE inhibitors and ARBs, which relax blood vessels by blocking the renin-angiotensin system; calcium channel blockers, which reduce arterial stiffness; beta-blockers, which slow the heart rate and reduce its workload; and diuretics, which reduce blood volume by increasing fluid excretion through the kidneys. Healthcare professionals frequently discuss Diltiazem as a potential treatment for patients presenting with anal fissures. The data supporting diltiazem for anal fissures provides a useful resource for patients who want a thorough understanding of how this medication has been studied and what clinical experience suggests about its effectiveness. One of the practical considerations with Diltiazem is timing. Some patients find that taking the medication at a consistent time each day helps maintain stable effects. Food interactions, if any, should be noted since they can affect how well the active ingredient diltiazem is absorbed. Patients are encouraged to review the full prescribing information or consult a pharmacist for personalized guidance. Treatment of anal fissures does not always follow a one-size-fits-all approach. The https://mednewwsstoday.com/blood-pressure/ section on blood pressure management covers the range of treatments that might complement or serve as alternatives to Diltiazem, helping patients and providers find the combination most suited to individual needs.
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