Author(s)

Archana Iyer, Elie Barbour, Esam Azhar, Ishtiaq Qadri, Adeel Chaudhary, Adel Abuzenadah, Taha Kumosani, Ghazi Damanhouri, Suhad Bahijri, Ahmed Al-Hejin, Afif M. Abdel Nour, Steve Harakeh

Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Department of Biochemistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
Medical Laboratory Technology Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.
Special Infectious Agents Unit—Biosafety Level 3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, KSA.

The continuous battle between humans and the multitude of pathogenic microorganisms in the environment has sought relief in the form of antimicrobials. But the counter attack by pathogenic organisms in the form of multidrug resistance, acquired by various mechanisms such as transformation, transposition, conjugation and transduction is a major reason for concern. Bacteriophages have contributed in a significant way to dissemination of genes encoding antimicrobial resistance, heavy metal resistance and virulence factors through the phenomenon of transduction. This review aims at compiling information about the different mechanisms by which bacteriophages aid in transferring genes involved in antimicrobial resistance to Escherischia coli in various environments.

Bacteriophages; Escherischia coli; Antimicrobial Resistance

Iyer, A. , Barbour, E. , Azhar, E. , Qadri, I. , Chaudhary, A. , Abuzenadah, A. , Kumosani, T. , Damanhouri, G. , Bahijri, S. , Al-Hejin, A. , Nour, A. and Harakeh, S. (2013) Bacteriophages in Escherichia coli antimicrobial resistance. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 4, 469-476. doi: 10.4236/abb.2013.43A062.