Specialist Enzymes Make E. coli Antibiotic Resistant at Low pH

New research from Washington University in St. Louis suggests that many so-called redundant enzymes are actually specialists that ensure maximal growth across different environments.

Further, these specialist enzymes were found to increase E. coli’s resistance to antibiotics at low pH conditions, such as those found in the GI tract or urinary tract — raising concerns that current antibiotic susceptibility tests are inadequate.