MUTATIONS TO SULFONAMIDE RESISTANCE IN STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

WO general hypotheses have been postulated to explain the origin of T drug-resistant strains of bacteria.These hfiotheses are: (I) Resistant cells arise by mutation and are selected when grown in the presence of drugs.(2) Resistance is the result of a specific adaptation of bacteria in response to inhibiting agents.Resistance of Escherichia coli to bacteriophage ( LURIA and DELBRUCK, 1943) resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to penicillin (DEMEREC 1g45), and resistance of Escherichia coli to ultraviolet radiation (WITKIN 1946) have been shown to be the result of mutations in individual cells.These mutant cells and clones formed from them possessed selective advantages in the presence of the destructive agent concerned.It is generally accepted that naturally occurring strains of sulfonamide-sensitive species of bacteria exhibit low tolerance for these drugs (