Escherichia coli Phenotype or Genotype

The spread of antibiotic resistance has been traditionally attributed to extensive antibiotic use in clinical and agricultural applications. The possible resistance selections by other non-antibiotic environmental chemicals, especially at relatively low concentrations in natural environments, however, have not been investigated and remain unknown. This study provides mechanistic evidence supporting the idea that the selection of antibiotic resistance in vivo by antibiotic-like environmental pollutants has been overlooked as potential contributors to the widespread emergence of bacterial resistance on global scales. Our finding is very significant and has far-reaching implications in changing the research directions and emphasis on antibiotic resistance.