Aminoglycoside resistance

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Aminoglycoside MOA - Protein Factory Sabotage

  • Bactericidal inhibitors of protein synthesis that target the 30S ribosomal subunit.
  • Entry into Gram-negative bacteria is an oxygen-dependent process.
  • Mechanism of Disruption:
    • Interferes with the initiation complex of peptide formation.
    • Induces misreading of mRNA, leading to toxic, nonfunctional proteins.
    • Causes breakdown of polysomes into nonfunctional monosomes.

⭐ Because aminoglycoside uptake requires oxygen, they are characteristically ineffective against anaerobic bacteria.

📌 Mnemonic: "Buy AT 30" (Aminoglycosides & Tetracyclines act on the 30S subunit).

Bacterial ribosome and antibiotic targets

Enzymatic Modification - The Main Defense

  • Most common mechanism of aminoglycoside resistance, mediated by Aminoglycoside-Modifying Enzymes (AMEs).
  • These enzymes, encoded by bacterial genes, transfer chemical groups to the drug, inactivating it.
    • Acetylation via Aminoglycoside Acetyltransferases (AAC)
    • Phosphorylation via Aminoglycoside Phosphotransferases (APH)
    • Adenylation via Aminoglycoside Nucleotidyltransferases (ANT)
  • This structural change prevents the aminoglycoside from binding effectively to its target on the 30S ribosomal subunit.
  • As a result, protein synthesis is no longer inhibited, and the bacterium survives.
  • 📌 Mnemonic for enzymes: Always Add Phosphate or Nucleotides (Acetyl, Phospho, Nucleotidyl).

Aminoglycoside action, resistance, and inhibition

⭐ The genes encoding AMEs are often carried on plasmids and transposons, allowing for rapid dissemination of resistance through horizontal gene transfer between bacteria.

Altered Target & Transport - Keeping the Drug Out

  • Altered Ribosomal Target:

    • Mechanism: Methylation of 16S rRNA on the 30S ribosomal subunit.
    • Enzyme: Plasmid-encoded rRNA methyltransferases.
    • Result: Steric hindrance ↓ prevents aminoglycoside binding at the A-site. This confers broad, high-level resistance to most aminoglycosides.
  • Impaired Drug Transport:

    • Uptake: Requires an oxygen-dependent active transport system linked to the electron transport chain.
    • Resistance Mechanisms:
      • Mutation or loss of porin channels (Gram-negatives) limits entry.
      • Disruption of the electron transport chain ↓ eliminates the electrical gradient needed for inner membrane transport.

Intrinsic Resistance: Anaerobes are intrinsically resistant to aminoglycosides because they lack the necessary oxygen-dependent transport system to move the drug across the cell membrane.

Antibiotic action vs. bacterial resistance

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • The primary mechanism of resistance is enzymatic modification (e.g., acetylation, phosphorylation) by plasmid-encoded transferase enzymes.
  • Resistance genes are readily transferred between bacteria on plasmids and transposons, facilitating rapid spread.
  • Another key mechanism is the alteration of the ribosomal target, specifically through mutations in the 16S rRNA of the 30S subunit.
  • Reduced uptake or active efflux of the drug out of the cell also confers resistance.
  • This is a major clinical problem for serious aerobic Gram-negative infections, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Practice Questions: Aminoglycoside resistance

Test your understanding with these related questions

A 37-year-old woman with a history of anorectal abscesses complains of pain in the perianal region. Physical examination reveals mild swelling, tenderness, and erythema of the perianal skin. She is prescribed oral ampicillin and asked to return for follow-up. Two days later, the patient presents with a high-grade fever, syncope, and increased swelling. Which of the following would be the most common mechanism of resistance leading to the failure of antibiotic therapy in this patient?

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Flashcards: Aminoglycoside resistance

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_____ is a -lactamase producing bacteria resistant to penicillin.

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

_____ is a -lactamase producing bacteria resistant to penicillin.

Staph aureus

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