Evolution mechanism of bacterial drug resistance in aquatic environments driven by typical epidemic control drugs

Key Points

• This research aims to understand how epidemic control drugs influence bacterial antibiotic resistance mechanisms in aquatic environments.
• Conducted iterative exposure experiments with E. coli DH5α to chlorquine phosphate and oseltamivir phosphate.
• Measured levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and analyzed enzyme activities related to oxidative stress.
• Examined changes in bacterial morphology and permeability in response to varying drug concentrations.
• Increased exposure concentration raised ROS levels initially before a decline, signifying activated oxidative stress response.
• Bacterial strains developed heightened resistance, becoming up to 16 times more resistant to multiple antibiotics after exposure.
• Significant morphological changes observed, with the size of bacteria decreasing in chlorquine phosphate treated groups.