Work

Transforming antibiotic tolerance research through genomics

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Antibiotic tolerance is an increasingly recognised contributor to treatment failure. Integrating genomics with laboratory evolution and functional screening has shifted emphasis from studying tolerance as a transient, non-heritable phenotype to recognising its genetic underpinnings. These approaches reveal pathways that shape antibiotic survival beyond dormant-cell models. However, most insights derive from laboratory systems, leaving their clinical relevance unresolved. In this review, we discuss advances in genome-wide analyses of tolerance and their potential to identify candidate genes and variants in patient-derived isolates, resolve genetic architecture and epistasis, and uncover influences on resistance evolution, ultimately advancing the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Source: Genome biology

DOI: 10.1186/s13059-026-04257-x

Author: Carolin M. Kobras

Institutions: University of Oxford, University of Birmingham

Language: English

Topic: Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $5,490