Bioenergetic stress potentiates antimicrobial resistance and persistence.

A preprint abstract from biorxiv.org discusses the impact of bioenergetic stress on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and persistence. The study used a synthetic biology approach to examine the effects of increased ATP utilization on antibiotic efficacy in Escherichia coli. The researchers found that bioenergetic stress enhances ROS production, mutagenic break repair, and transcription-coupled repair, leading to the evolution of AMR. Additionally, bioenergetic stress potentiates antimicrobial persistence through stringent response activation. The findings have important implications for preventing the spread of AMR infections. However, it is important to note that this preprint has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]