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Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms: The Significance of Gene Swapping Viruses Publisher



Shafaati M1 ; Harandi H1 ; Salehi M1 ; Zare M2
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Research Center for Antibiotic Stewardship and Antimicrobial Resistance, Infectious Diseases Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Virology Department of Professor Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Source: Reviews and Research in Medical Microbiology Published:2024


Abstract

Antibiotic resistance has become a serious concern for global health. Bacterial mutations are mainly responsible for the emergence of resistance. However, new studies have highlighted the critical role that gene-swapping viruses, often known as bacteriophages, play in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. The horizontal transfer of resistance genes across bacteria, facilitated by bacteriophages, is one of the mechanisms underlying gene swapping that we discuss. Understanding the complex mechanism of gene-swapping viruses will help develop feasible solutions to antibiotic resistance. Understanding how bacteriophages contribute to antibiotic resistance has the potential to lead to novel therapies and more responsible antibiotic usage, ultimately protecting the effectiveness of these vital medications. We aim to provide a brief overview of the relationship between gene-swapping viruses and antibiotic resistance here. Copyright © 2025 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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