Overcoming mcr-1 mediated colistin resistance with colistin in combination with other antibiotics.

ABSTRACT: Plasmid-borne colistin resistance mediated by mcr-1 may contribute to the dissemination of pan-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we show that mcr-1 confers resistance to colistin-induced lysis and bacterial cell death, but provides minimal protection from the ability of colistin to disrupt the Gram-negative outer membrane. Indeed, for colistin-resistant strains of Enterobacteriaceae expressing plasmid-borne mcr-1, clinically relevant concentrations of colistin potentiate the action of antibiotics that, by themselves, are not active against Gram-negative bacteria. The result is that several antibiotics, in combination with colistin, display growth-inhibition at levels below their corresponding clinical breakpoints. Furthermore, colistin and clarithromycin combination therapy displays

SUBMITTER: MacNair CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5792607 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature