Lifestyle switching -- Bacillus cereus is able to resist certain antibiotic therapies

(University of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna) The pathogenic bacterium Bacillus cereus causes vomiting and diarrhoea as well as systemic and local infections. A team from the Vetmeduni Vienna has reported for the first time that B. cereus, following contact with certain antibiotics, can switch into a special slowed-down mode. The bacteria then form small colony variants (SVCs) that are difficult to diagnose and almost impossible to treat with certain antibiotics. This discovered mechanism may provide an alternative explanation for antibiotic resistance.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news