Pumping of drug molecules out of bacterial cells is a major mechanism of antibiotic resistance

What is it about?

This article is about the different types of proteins that pump drug molecules and other potentially harmful compounds out of bacterial cells, which are known as multidrug efflux pumps. These proteins are a major mechanism of antibiotic resistance. Study of the structures, functions and molecular mechanisms of multidrug efflux pumps is important for understanding this cause of antibiotic resistance and for developing drugs or other strategies to combat antibiotic resistance.

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Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Antibiotic resistance is a global problem for which rates are dramatically increasing and the mechanisms of resistance are varied and complicated. Development of multidrug-resistant bacteria is of high concern, especially given the slow progress in creating new antibiotics, and this is one of the most important public health threats of the 21st century. Studying the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance is therefore highly important.