Uncovering the Roots of Antibiotic Resistance: A Scientist's Discovery.

Microbiologist Dr. Salvador Almagro-Moreno has uncovered the evolutionary origins of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria by studying genetic variants of a protein found in bacterial membranes called OmpU. His team found that several OmpU mutations in the cholera bacteria led to resistance to numerous antimicrobial agents, including antimicrobial peptides that act as defenses in the human gut. By understanding how mutations occur, researchers can better understand and develop therapeutics to combat resistant infections.