AMR and bacterial evolution

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AMR and bacterial evolution

AMR occurs when microorganisms - bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites - develop the ability to resist the action of medicines that would otherwise kill them or prevent their growth. AMR is a natural - but worrying - phenomenon that happens as a result of evolution. Our work aims to understand what drives the evolution of AMR and how bacteria acquire the ability to resist antibiotics.

AMR evolution

We perform large-scale analyses of bacterial genomes to identify genetic differences that may be related to specific phenotypes, such as the ability to resist antibiotics or to infect new hosts. These analyses are complemented with experiments that elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which those genetic determinants enable the bacteria to cause infections, including those involved in antimicrobial resistance. Read our interview with Prof. Sam Sheppard to learn more.