System for real-time monitoring of mutation-in-progress

Abstract

Aims: There has been an increasing number of pathogens becoming resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics. The study on how mutation emerges is therefore crucial to promote further understanding in this area. Conventional methods for such studies involve the monitoring of growth by standard plate count and biomolecular sequencing. This is however tedious and not cost effective. The aim of this paper is thus to introduce a novel system that enables real‐time monitoring of bacterial ‘mutation‐in‐progress’. Methods and Results: This system provides real‐time data, thus enabling confirmatory and further work to be performed at the important points when mutation is initiated. The system integrates spectroscopic techniques as the detection system and various supporting systems, such as a nutrient replenishing system, a pH control system and a waste system to allow for extended monitoring. In this paper, the feasibility of monitoring the emergence of ciprofloxacin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus was demonstrated as an initial example. The integrated system was found to require significantly less material resource and manpower compared with conventional techniques. Conclusions: The novel system to monitor bacterial mutation‐in‐progress is presented. The work reported herein demonstrates such a system to be effective and efficient in performing real‐time monitoring of mutation‐in‐progress, especially in extended time frames for mutation into the weeks and months. Significance and Impact of the Study: With the successful optimization of this system, researchers can learn about the dynamics of antibiotic resistance and further understand how the mutation of bacteria occurs.

Maggot metabolites and their combinatory effects with antibiotic on Staphylococcus aureus

“…Its target, DNA gyrase is shown previously to undergo adaptive mutation when exposed to ciprofloxacin at near MIC concentrations. This may take place in as few as 4 days of drug exposure [22]. A point mutation in the subunits of the DNA topoisomerase enzyme ( grl B gene), resulting in a resistant specie was reported by Stutandar et.…”

“…al. [22], when they exposed S. aureus at near-MIC of ciprofloxacin. Similar point mutations have been demonstrated by others [27,28].…”

“…Ciprofloxacin is a broad spectrum fluroquinolone antibiotic, commonly used for treatment of bacterial infections. There have been a number of instances of increasing ciprofloxacin resistance in S. aureus reported in the past [21,22]. The combination investigations of the antibiotic with natural extracts of the insect was performed over an extended period of time, to study their effects on the rapid adaptive resistance in S. aureus for ciprofloxacin.…”

Microchip system for monitoring microbial physiological behaviour under drug influences

“…As such, customized drug regimes optimized to the specific case scenarios are being introduced. Consequently, rapid and real-time screening technologies have also become an important adjunct in concocting or optimizing such unique combinations and dosages [5][6][7][8]. For instance, drugs at various dosages may result in both desirable and undesirable outcomes for an individual.…”

“…This information may include real-time physiological kinetics (e.g. kill curves) of the organism, effective dosages for therapeutic results, drug synergistic combinations, and mutation induction in some pathogenic species [6].…”