The Lifesciences Magazine

  According to a recent study, E. coli bacteria may be more capable than previously thought of evolving antibiotic resistance. Seventy-five percent of evolutionary pathways led to significant antibiotic resistance, defying established beliefs about fitness landscapes in evolutionary biology. The researchers analysed potential mutations in a key E. Coli protein involved in antibiotic resistance. This finding might have wider ramifications for our comprehension of evolution and adaptation in many other contexts. Fitness Landscapes And Antibiotic Resistance Under the direction of SFI External Professor Andreas Wagner, the scientists conducted an experimental mapping of over 260,000 potential mutations in a protein that is crucial for the survival of E. coli in the presence of the antibiotic trimethoprim. The researchers then discovered that 75% of all potential evolutionary paths of the E. coli protein ultimately gave the bacteria such a high level of antibiotic resistance that a clin...