Alternative lipid synthesis in response to phosphate limitation promotes antibiotic tolerance in Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens (Updated September 12, 2024).

This article discusses a study on the alternative lipid synthesis in Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens in response to phosphate limitation. The outer membrane of these pathogens protects them from antibiotics, but the anionic phosphates on the cell surface allow cationic antimicrobial peptides like colistin to penetrate the membrane and kill the cells. The study found that in response to phosphate scarcity, these pathogens produce aminolipids as an adaptive strategy, which helps them overcome colistin-mediated killing. This research suggests that aminolipid biosynthesis may be a broad strategy used by other Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens to survive in phosphate limiting conditions. [Extracted from the article]