Antimicrobial resistance and mechanisms of epigenetic regulation

Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023 Jun 14:13:1199646. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1199646. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

The rampant use of antibiotics in animal husbandry, farming and clinical disease treatment has led to a significant issue with pathogen resistance worldwide over the past decades. The classical mechanisms of resistance typically investigate antimicrobial resistance resulting from natural resistance, mutation, gene transfer and other processes. However, the emergence and development of bacterial resistance cannot be fully explained from a genetic and biochemical standpoint. Evolution necessitates phenotypic variation, selection, and inheritance. There are indications that epigenetic modifications also play a role in antimicrobial resistance. This review will specifically focus on the effects of DNA modification, histone modification, rRNA methylation and the regulation of non-coding RNAs expression on antimicrobial resistance. In particular, we highlight critical work that how DNA methyltransferases and non-coding RNAs act as transcriptional regulators that allow bacteria to rapidly adapt to environmental changes and control their gene expressions to resist antibiotic stress. Additionally, it will delve into how Nucleolar-associated proteins in bacteria perform histone functions akin to eukaryotes. Epigenetics, a non-classical regulatory mechanism of bacterial resistance, may offer new avenues for antibiotic target selection and the development of novel antibiotics.

Keywords: DNA modification; antimicrobial resistance; epigenetic drugs; epigenetics; non-coding RNAs; rRNA methylation.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Husbandry
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / pharmacology
  • DNA
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial* / genetics
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Nuclear Proteins

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • DNA

Grants and funding

This work was supported by: Key Project on the Integration of Industry, Education and Research Collaborative Innovation of Fujian Province (No. 2021YZ034011); the Key Project on Science and Technology Program of Fujian Health Commission (No. 2021ZD01002); Joint Funds for the innovation of science and Technology, Fujian province (Grant number: 2021Y9184).