Origin of Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics

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Abstract
Mutations are held responsible for the origin of streptomycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. The observed stepwise increase of resistance to penicillin and streptomycin is explained by assuming that mutations in several genes are instrumental in the process. In penicillin resistance, the steps are uniform and 1st-step resistance is low. This is explained by assuming that mutations in equally potent genes are effective in producing resistance. In streptomycin resistance, the steps in its development are very variable, and lst-step resistance may be anything from low to very high. This is explained by assuming that mutations in genes of different potencies are responsible for the resistance.