(Cross-)Resistance to Antibiotics and Non-Antibiotic Antibacterials in Laboratory Isolates of Escherichia coli

We investigated the mechanisms by which E. coli becomes resistant to the three functionally different antibacterials benzalkonium chloride, chloramphenicol, and triclosan. (1) we isolated resistant mutants from agar plates supplemented with concentrations of benzalkonium chloride, chloramphenicol or tricolsan lethal to the wild type strain, E. coli K12-MG1655. (2) interested in the reciprocity of resistance mechanisms, we assessed the phenotypic resistance of resistant mutants to all three of these antibacterials.We also investigated the mechanisms by which E. coli adapts to long-term and short-term exposure to different honey products. (1) we serially passaged isolates in four different honey products and in LB as a control. (2) we isolated resistant mutants from honey-supplemented agar plates. (3) we determined the cost of honey adapation and the potential for cross-resistance with functionally different antibiotics.