3.2 Horizontal transfer

Horizontal gene transfer, or horizontal transfer, is the primary mechanism of spread of antibiotic resistance that allows bacteria to spread antibiotic resistance genes rapidly between different bacteria, and can sometimes include transfer to different bacterial species. As you should be starting to appreciate, the acquisition of antibiotic resistance by new bacterial types is particularly concerning because it can result in multidrug-resistant bacterial strains such as MRSA.

Figure 22 Antibiotic resistance.

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Antibiotic resistance cartoon. The cartoon features two bacteria, one is dressed in a coat and mac and hiding around a corner. This bacteria is holding a double helix of DNA. The speech bubble says ‘pssst! Hey kid! Wanna be a superbug? Stick some of the into your genome… even penicillin won’t be able to harm you!’ The caption reads ‘It was on a short-cut through the hospital kitchens that Albert was first approached by a member of the Antibiotic Resistance.’

Figure 22 Antibiotic resistance.