Resistance Mechanism
Mutational alteration or enzymatic modification of antibiotic target which results in antibiotic resistance.
AMR Gene Family
A group of mobile colistin resistance genes encode the MCR family of phosphoethanolamine transferases, which catalyze the addition of phosphoethanolamine onto lipid A, thus interfering with the binding of colistin to the cell membrane.
Antibiotic
Colistin A, or polymyxin E1, has a 6-octanoic acid lipid tail. Polymyxins disrupt the cell membrane of Gram-negative bacteria.
Antibiotic
Colistin B, or polymyxin E2, has a 6-heptanoic acid lipid tail. Polymyxins disrupt the cell membrane of Gram-negative bacteria.
Drug Class
Peptide antibiotics have a wide range of antibacterial mechanisms, depending on the amino acids that make up the antibiotic, although most act to disrupt the cell membrane in some manner. Subclasses of peptide antibiotics can include additional sidechains of other types, such as lipids in the case of the lipopeptide antibiotics.