Molecular Mechanisms of Antibiotics Resistance

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance has been observed since the discovery of antibiotics, and the indiscriminate use of antibiotics have contributed to the spread of resistance among bacteria species. Antibiotic resistance is encoded by several genes and can be easily transferred between bacteria; which might be owed to the fact that these resistant genes are mostly carried by mobile genetic elements (such as plasmids, integronsand transposons). The origin of antibiotic resistance, types of antibiotic resistance, and the molecular mechanisms of resistance are discussed in this article. The resistance to antibiotics mediated by genes encoded on the chromosome, plasmids, integronsand transposons were highlighted. New improved strategies for sampling and screening microbial population is essential for better understanding of the factors that promotes the dissemination of resistance genes; and to also elucidate the relationships between antibiotic resistance-genes of producer, the environment, and the pathogenic bacteria.