Strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance: anti-plasmid and plasmid curing

ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global problem hindering treatment of bacterial infections, rendering many aspects of modern medicine less effective. AMR genes (ARGs), are frequently located on plasmids, which are self-replicating elements of DNA. They are often transmissible between bacteria, and some have spread globally. Novel strategies to combat AMR are needed, and plasmid curing and anti-plasmid approaches could reduce ARG prevalence, and sensitize bacteria to antibiotics. We discuss the use of curing agents as laboratory tools including chemicals (e.g. detergents and intercalating agents), drugs used in medicine including ascorbic acid, psychotropic drugs (e.g. chlorpromazine), antibiotics (e.g. aminocoumarins, quinolones, and rifampicin), and plant-derived compounds. Novel strategies are examined; these include conjugation inhibitors (e.g. linoleic, oleic, 2-hexadecynoic and tanzawaic acids, and TraE inhibitors), systems designed around plasmid incompatibility, phages, and CRISPR/Cas based approaches. Currently there is a general lack of in vivo curing options. This review highlights this important shortfall, which if filled, could provide a promising mechanism to reduce ARG prevalence in humans and animals. Plasmid curing mechanisms which are not suitable for in vivo use could still prove important for reducing the global burden of AMR, as high levels of ARGs exist in the environment.

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