Antibiotic resistance and horizontal gene transfer
Resistencia a antibióticos y su transferencia horizontal
- Date
- 1940-1961 · confidence high
- Place
- Tokyo, Japan / Oxford
- Credited to
- Abraham and Chain (penicillinase, 1940), Tsutomu Watanabe (R plasmids, 1959-1963), Patricia Jevons (MRSA, 1961)
- People
- 👤 Edward Abraham1913–1999👤 Tsutomu Watanabe1923–1972
- Field
- Life & health
What was discovered
Discovery of penicillinase before penicillin's clinical use and, in Japan, that multiple resistance is transmitted between bacteria via plasmids. MRSA appeared one year after methicillin.
Fleming warned of resistance in his Nobel lecture (1945).
What it led to
- surveillance and prudent use of antibiotics
- the concept of 'One Health' (veterinary use)
- the global resistance crisis (WHO)
- the search for new strategies: phages, peptides, AI
Built on
- Penicillin1928–1943
- bacterial genetics
Made possible
- antibiograms
- beta-lactamase inhibitors