Temperature dependence of the mutation rate towards antibiotic resistance

• Published in: JAC-antimicrobial resistance 2024-06, Vol.6 (3), p.dlae085
• Main Authors: Van Eldijk, Timo J B, Sheridan, Eleanor A, Martin, Guillaume, Weissing, Franz J, Kuipers, Oscar P, Van Doorn, G Sander
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 2632-1823; 2632-1823
• DOI: 10.1093/jacamr/dlae085

Abstract Objectives Environmental conditions can influence mutation rates in bacteria. Fever is a common response to infection that alters the growth conditions of infecting bacteria. Here we examine how a temperature change, such as is associated with fever, affects the mutation rate towards antibiotic resistance. Methods We used a fluctuation test to assess the mutation rate towards antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli at two different temperatures: 37°C (normal temperature) and 40°C (fever temperature). We performed this measurement for three different antibiotics with different modes of action: ciprofloxacin, rifampicin and ampicillin. Results In all cases, the mutation rate towards antibiotic resistance turned out to be temperature dependent, but in different ways. Fever temperatures led to a reduced mutation rate towards ampicillin resistance and an elevated mutation rate towards ciprofloxacin and rifampicin resistance. Conclusions This study shows that the mutation rate towards antibiotic resistance is impacted by a small change in temperature, such as associated with fever. This opens a new avenue to mitigate the emergence of antibiotic resistance by coordinating the choice of an antibiotic with the decision of whether or not to suppress fever when treating a patient. Hence, optimized combinations of antibiotics and fever suppression strategies may be a new weapon in the battle against antibiotic resistance.