Crash course by Nigel Thompson (transcript below)
Purpose: to discuss the topic and nature of antibiotic resistance, using the bacteria, Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is responsible for the development of pneumonia and meningitis, as a case study for analysis. Furthermore, I will talk about how antibiotic resistance is gained within bacteria, by discussing antibiotics, which have been the best defense against S. pneumoniae, however, overuse of them has led to the genesis of antibiotic-resistant pneumococcus.
Furthermore, my goal with this topic is to educate adults about the importance of staying up to date with vaccination guidelines for their children or any other at-risk population that they may be exposed to. Additionally, educating adults can lead to possible funding for drug development, as word travels and people see the benefits of developing newer antibiotics.
Script Introduction:
Hello everyone, I am Nigel Thompson and today for my mini lesson presentation, I will be discussing the topic of antibiotic resistance that evolves within bacteria, specifically touching upon the bacteria, Streptococcus pneumoniae.
What is Antibiotic resistance? :
Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria evolves to combat medicines and drugs that were designed to treat them. In other words, this is when bacteria “gets stronger” and becomes resistant to current treatments used. Infections become harder to treat, which subsequently, increases the risk for disease spread of the pathogen caused by the bacteria. In addition to this, it is possible for bacteria to gain antibiotic resistance through the process of horizontal gene transfer. Horizontal gene transfer is simply the exchange of genetic information and code between other similarity related bacteria.
Myxoma Virus Rabbits & COVID- 19 Pandemic:
To understand antibiotic resistance fully, lets first discuss viral evolution of a disease/pathogen
An example of viral evolution is present within the Myxoma Virus, where the virus became more lethal to account for the stronger innate immunity developed by the rabbits. Natural selection favors viruses that can overcome these stronger defenses, which leads to the presence of the resistant strain.
This can also be applied to a virus we are all more familiar with, since it was at the forefront of the world for a very long time: COVID-19. Covid-19 has evolved, similar to the myxoma virus, producing a strain far more deadly than the original one. This was seen with the Delta virus strain replacing the Omicron virus strain, as the Delta was the virus which caused the most harm to an individual.
Streptococcus pneumoniae: What is it?
Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is responsible for the development of pneumonia and meningitis. Streptococcus pneumoniae has been linked to high rates of morbidity and mortality, especially in children under 2, immunocompromised individuals, and the elderly population. The Streptococcus pneumoniae has high genomic flexibility, leading to high genomic plasticity, which allows for quick spread and environment adaptation. What this means is that the S. pneumoniae is a virus that adapts to its environment to allow for easy disease transmission between hosts.
Antibiotics and Healthcare:
Antibiotics have been the best defense against S. pneumoniae, however, overuse of them has led to the genesis of antibiotic-resistant pneumococcus. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics are major contributors to the development of antibiotic resistance. This can be attributed to antibiotic-prescribing habits of physicians and healthcare workers to their patients, causing an upward trend in antibiotic resistance. As patients are prescribed these antibiotics, not all patients finish their dosages to completion, which leads to the bacteria that is causing the infection to gain a resistance to the antibiotics. When antibiotics are overused or used improperly, bacteria that are naturally resistant to them can thrive and multiply, and the sensitive bacteria that can be killed by the antibiotics are eliminated. This leads to the emergence of the antibiotic-resistant strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The CDC identifies drug-resistant S. pneumoniae as a serious health threat.
Vaccinations: Combating the Growing Resistance
Vaccinations have been our best line of defense against diseases that evolve due to antibiotic resistance, conjugate pneumococcal vaccines especially. The development of the conjugate pneumococcal vaccines is currently the leading preventable measure for the antibiotic resistant S. pneumoniae, as they work to prevent the infection of the bacteria at the start.
Why is it important?
Vaccinations are necessary for controlling the severity and spread of the resistant S. pneumoniae. Antibiotics are not as effective in treating and managing infections, and there is a need for an agenda that pushes for conjugate vaccines being the future of managing infections for this bacteria. Without the worry for antibiotic resistance, vaccinations are much more convenient for people as well, since it can be over as well as in one shot. I believe that it is very important and necessary for people to get vaccinated to avoid infection prior, to avoid any further complications that can occur down the line.
Conclusions & Key Takeaways
Antibiotic resistance is rising in an upward trend, due to the antibiotic prescribing habits present within the current healthcare system. This, along with possible horizontal gene transfer between similar bacterial strains, has led to the increased presence of resistant bacterial strains, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can lead to greater disease risk and transmission. To combat antibiotic usage, vaccinations are used as another medium, with the purpose of stopping the infection before it even happens.
Sources:
- Kaplan, S L, and E O Mason Jr. “Management of infections due to antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.” Clinical microbiology reviews vol. 11,4 (1998): 628-44. doi:10.1128/CMR.11.4.628
- Kilian, Mogens, et “Parallel evolution of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus mitis to pathogenic and mutualistic lifestyles.” MBio 5.4 (2014): e01490-14.
- Davies, Nicholas G., et al. “Modeling the effect of vaccination on selection for antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumonia ” Science translational medicine 13.606 (2021):eaaz8690