Evolution-proofing antibiotics.
“Part of the problem lies precisely in the very effective way in which antibiotics work. Most inhibit essential components of the cellular machinery, efficiently killing susceptible pathogens but also members of our commensal microbiota. This exerts a massive selection pressure, where the only route to survival is the evolution of resistance.” There’s an approach to dealing with antibiotic resistance by fighting virulence factors rather than microbes themselves. It’s promising, but is it really possible to sidestep the evolution at the root of drug resistance? | learn more