NDM-1 : Why it is so important to us
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New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) has been a very popular term in field of general health issues. Actually, NDM-1 is an enzyme that makes bacteria resistant to a broad range of beta-lactam antibiotics, which are a backbone for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. The enzyme is active against compounds that contain a chemical structure known as a beta-lactam ring. Unfortunately, many antibiotics contain this beta-lactam ring. What more, NDM-1 gene is much more capable , almost 1 million times, to passed between different bacterial species at normal daily temperature in countries like India it means these gens can give the divine power of antibiotic resistance to other bacterial strains more rapidly than others.
Actually, Antibiotic resistance is a slow but inevitable phenomenon where a microorganism is able to survive exposure to an antibiotic. While a spontaneous or induced genetic mutation in bacteria may causes resistance to antimicrobial drugs by gene transfer that confer resistance in between bacteria in a horizontal fashion by conjugation, transduction, or transformation. But it is a slow process but in the case of NDM-1 it’s very fast one. Recent reports suggests that NDM-1 is a product of a gene fusion, process of creation of a hybrid gene created by joining portions of two different genes to produce a new protein or by joining a gene to a different promoter to alter gene regulation. So although they are referring it as "superbugs" but in reality it is a "supergene" which is a real culprit and finally, seems, to lead the world towards a great havoc.
Further Reading
1. Emergence of NDM-1 gene
2. First NDM-Positive Salmonella sp. Strain Identified in the United States
3. Watch this Video to know more about NDM-1
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