Question

Describe how bacteria may become antibiotic resistant.

Answer 1

horizontal gene transfer (conjugation) from an antibiotic-resistant bacteria to a non antibiotic resistant bacteria. Then, the donor genetic material will be inserted into the recipient by double crossover (genetic recombination). Then, the non-antibiotic resistant bacteria becomes antibiotic resistant.

I hope this helps. Correct me if i'm wrong.

Answer 2

@yukitou What you've written is not incorrect, however, it is not the whole story.

In addition to plasmid transfer, you can also have pressure on bacterial populations to evolve, in particular, this is seen with low-level antibiotic usage (frequently due to not taking the full dr-prescribed course of the antibiotic). This selection pressure leaves bacterial populations under heavy pressure to evolve resistance or die out: when the full course of antibiotics is not taken, these resistant and "extra hardy" bugs are what reproduce and get passed onto the next victim.

This next victim might then have an "antibiotic resistant" infection or may also select for one in the same way as described above.

Answer 3

Bacteria develop resistance through the acquisition
of new genetic material from other resistant organisms. This
is termed horizontal evolution, and may occur between
strains of the same species or between different bacterial
species or genera. Mechanisms of genetic exchange include
conjugation, transduction, and transformation.
Mutation and selection, together with the mechanisms of
genetic exchange, enable many bacterial species to adapt
quickly to the introduction of antibacterial agents into their
environment. Although a single mutation in a key bacterial
gene may only slightly reduce the susceptibility of the host
bacteria to that antibacterial agent, it may be just enough to
allow its initial survival until it acquires additional mutations
or additional genetic information resulting in fullfledged
resistance to the antibacterial agent.

for more information u may read _ biomed.emory.edu/PROGRAM_SITES/PBEE/pdf/tenover1.pdf

Answer 4

@viendra @clstal
thanks for the info shared :)
it enlighten me a lot