Bacterial defences: mechanisms, evolution and antimicrobial resistance

• Published in: Nature reviews. Microbiology Vol. 21; no. 8; pp. 519 - 534
• Main Authors: Smith, William P. J., Wucher, Benjamin R., Nadell, Carey D., Foster, Kevin R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.08.2023; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/326/1321; 631/326/22/1434; 631/326/2565/107; 631/326/41/1319; 631/326/41/2529; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibiotics; Antimicrobial agents; Antimicrobial resistance; Bacteria; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteriophages - genetics; Biology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Competition; Defense; DNA methylation; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Enzymes; Evolution; Infectious Diseases; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; Medical treatment; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Parasitology; Phages; Physiology; Predators; Review Article; Reviews; Toxins; Viral infections; Virology
• ISSN: 1740-1526; 1740-1534
• DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00877-3

Throughout their evolutionary history, bacteria have faced diverse threats from other microorganisms, including competing bacteria, bacteriophages and predators. In response to these threats, they have evolved sophisticated defence mechanisms that today also protect bacteria against antibiotics and other therapies. In this Review, we explore the protective strategies of bacteria, including the mechanisms, evolution and clinical implications of these ancient defences. We also review the countermeasures that attackers have evolved to overcome bacterial defences. We argue that understanding how bacteria defend themselves in nature is important for the development of new therapies and for minimizing resistance evolution. In this Review, Smith, Foster and colleagues explore the protective strategies of bacteria, including the mechanisms, evolution and clinical implications of these ancient defences. They discuss new therapies for treating disease and how to minimize resistance evolution.