From resistance genes to resistance states and enzymatic context-dependence in antimicrobial resistance.

Resistance genes can produce different antimicrobial resistance phenotypes depending on environmental and physiological context, highlighting resistance as a state rather than a fixed trait.

• Why it matters: Understanding resistance solely through gene presence and standardized susceptibility tests overlooks the influence of local conditions, risking inaccurate assessments of resistance potential.
• What they did: The study emphasizes that resistance should be viewed as a context-dependent functional state, influenced by factors such as microenvironment, enzyme activity, antibiotic exposure, and bacterial physiology.
• The result: Recognizing resistance as a dynamic state enables more accurate predictions of resistance behavior and informs better strategies for managing antimicrobial resistance.