Environmental Pollutants Induce Noninherited Antibiotic Resistance to Polymyxin B in Escherichia Coli

Abstract

Aim: The mechanisms behind antibiotic resistance by bacteria are important to create alternative molecules. Objective: This study focuses on the impact of environmental pollutants on bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Materials & methods: The effect of various environmental pollutants on noninherited bacterial resistance to antibiotics was examined. Results: The tolerance to the polymyxin-B antibiotic was shown to be conferred to Escherichia coli, by pretreatment with subinhibitory concentrations of environmental toxicants. The cell survival to a sublethal dosage of antibiotics was tested. Exposure to low concentrations of toxic compounds (500 ppb copper, 2% [v/v] ethanol or 0.5 μg/ml trimethoprim) stimulated the bacterial heat shock systems and led to increased tolerance to polymyxin B. Conclusion: Environmental pollutants induce a temporary bacterial noninheritable resistance to antibiotic.

Graphical abstract

The effects of various environmental pollutants on noninherited bacterial resistance to antibiotics were explored. The results show that pretreatment of bacteria with subinhibitory concentrations of some compounds, found in common environmental milieus (e.g., copper, ethanol, antibiotics), may induce temporary noninherited resistance to polymyxin B. The data suggest that environmental toxicants may stimulate bacterial heat shock repair systems, thereby conferring the bacteria temporary noninheritable resistance.

Keywords::

• antibiotic resistance
• bacteria
• E. coli
• environmental pollutants
• noninherited resistance
• polymyxin B

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/fmb-2020-0172

Author contributions

E Eltzov assisted in developing methodology, validation, formal analysis, investigation, resources, data curation, writing – original draft preparation, writing – review and editing, visualization and supervision. A Kushmaro helped in conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, resources, data curation, writing – review and editing, visualization, supervision, project administration and funding acquisition. RS Marks assisted in conceptualization, formal analysis, resources, data curation, writing – review and editing, visualization, supervision, project administration and funding acquisition. D Harpaz performed investigation, validation, writing – original draft preparation.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.