conjugation, transformation, transduction
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a complex and evolving process that allows bacteria to withstand the effects of antibiotics, rendering them less effective or completely ineffective in treating infections. Bacteria can develop resistance through various mechanisms, and the most common ones include: 1. Mutation : Bacteria can undergo spontaneous mutations in their genetic material, leading to changes in the structure or function of proteins targeted by antibiotics. These mutations can make the bacteria less susceptible to the effects of the antibiotic, reducing its ability to kill or inhibit bacterial growth. 2. Horizontal Gene Transfer : Bacteria can exchange genetic material through processes like conjugation , transformation , and transduction . This allows the transfer of genes that encode for antibiotic resistance between bacterial cells, even across different species. Horizontal gene transfer is a major contributor to the spread of antibiotic resistance among