INHIBITION OF ANTIBIOTIC-INDUCED MUTATION IN BACTERIA

New Mexico State University Las Cruces, Las Cruces NM

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Abstract

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Bacterial resistance to antimicrobial drugs has the potential to become a global health crisis. This problem has necessitated an explosion of research to discover new drug targets as well as synthetic antibiotics. While this tactic is essential to stay ahead of the evolution of antibiotic resistant organisms, it is also important to combat the resistance process. Bacteria can acquire resistance to antibiotics through chromosomal mutations and high rates of resistance-conferring chromosomal mutations are at least partially due to pathways induced to repair damaged DNA caused either directly or indirectly by the antibiotic. Unlike other antimicrobial peptides currently being studied, we are looking for peptides that reduce the mutability of bacteria as opposed to killing the bacteria. Once identified, these peptides could potentially serve as antibiotic additives and could be used to reduce the evolution rate of bacteria regardless of the molecular target of the drug.