The Evolution of Drug Resistance
First drug to treat HIV was AZT, but within a few years AZT was no longer effective. Populations of HIV had adapted to AZT by evolving resistance. This is also an important concept for bacterial infections. Drug-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrheae, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and cholera have steadily increased in abundance. Worldwide, more than a half million people will die each year from drug resistant infections. This represents a major crises in public health!
As the use of antibiotics increases, so does the incidence of bacteria that are resistant to those antibiotics. Any gains made are quickly lost. Consider the following figures and prompt questions to start discussion.
Remember, for full credit on a discussion board students must post at least twice. First the student must respond to the discussion item prompt or question with a thoughtful, original response at least 1 paragraph in length. Second, the student must respond to at least one other students’ post with a thoughtful original response at least 1 paragraph in length. A paragraph consists of a topic sentence with additional supporting sentences. A paragraph is defined by its unity of thought not number of sentences, but 3-4 additional supporting sentences is a good place to start.
1. Do the drugs cause drug-resistant mutations in the bacteria’s genes?
2. Do the mutations occur even without exposure to drugs?
3. Do the mutations spread among different species of bacteria?
4. Can the evolution of resistance be prevented by using lower doses of drugs? Higher doses? Combinations of different drugs?
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