Compensatory evolution in NusG improves fitness of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38509362/)

These scientists wanted to understand why some bacteria become resistant to a common antibiotic called rifampicin, even though it can make them weaker. Rifampicin is an important medicine used to treat tuberculosis, a serious lung disease. The scientists studied a specific bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis that can become resistant to rifampicin.

To figure out how this resistance works, the scientists used a special tool called CRISPR interference to block certain genes in the bacteria. They discovered that a protein called NusG is very important for the bacteria's survival when they are resistant to rifampicin. This protein helps the bacteria's machinery work better, but when it doesn't work properly, the bacteria can become stronger.

By studying how NusG and other factors affect the bacteria's resistance, the scientists found out how the bacteria can become stronger even when they are supposed to be weaker. This information can help scientists develop new treatments to fight against drug-resistant bacteria in the future.

Eckartt KA., Delbeau M., Munsamy-Govender V., DeJesus MA., Azadian ZA., Reddy AK., Chandanani J., Poulton NC., Quinones-Garcia S., Bosch B., Landick R., Campbell EA., Rock JM. Compensatory evolution in NusG improves fitness of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis. Nature. 2024 Mar 20. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07206-5.