From Benign to Lethal: The tale of the little E. coli that could
Evolution is a slow-moving, unyielding force that acts upon all life forms, leaving fossils and hidden traces in DNA as evidence. The power behind the theory of evolution has never been so vividly illustrated as in Harvard Medical School’s widely viewed YouTube clip depicting the rapid evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria across a massive agar plate.
Starting on agar without any form of antibiotics, E. coli was able to mutate and move across zones of increasing antibiotic concentrations. Ultimately, it not only survived—but thrived and multiplied—in agar containing 1000 times the concentration of antibiotics that would initially have inhibited the strain at its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). This once-susceptible E. coli strain overcame all obstacles in only 10 days of exposure.
A considerably longer period of antibiotic exposure has shaped the modern microbial landscape. Penicillin has been used to treat infections since the 1940s. Once hailed as a miracle drug that dramatically reduced deaths caused by bacterial infections, antibiotics are now widely used in everything from human and animal healthcare to food production. While treating diagnosed bacterial infections remains essential, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, particularly in agriculture and overprescription, have fueled the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
According to the CDC, an increasing number of infections are becoming harder to treat due to growing antibiotic resistance. Pneumonia, for example, is a respiratory infection that can cause fevers as high as 105°F and result in fluid accumulation in the lungs. Tuberculosis, also known historically as “consumption” or “the white plague,” was once responsible for up to 40% of all deaths in 19th-century European cities. Gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection, can cause severe complications including infertility in both men and women and has the potential to become life-threatening when left untreated and allowed to spread to the bloodstream or joints.
Antibiotic resistance has become so severe that even colistin, a last-resort antibiotic used when all others fail against multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial strains, is now encountering resistance due to the emergence of the mcr-1 gene, a troubling development in the fight against superbugs.
While the CDC is leading efforts with education and stewardship programs for both the public and healthcare professionals, one fact remains clear, as vividly demonstrated in the Harvard video: any use of antibiotics promotes antibiotic resistance.
The solution isn’t to discard antibiotics and return to a pre-penicillin world. Rather, it lies in developing and advancing new antibiotics, promoting responsible use, and investing in robust antimicrobial testing strategies.
At Emery Pharma, our experienced scientific team supports this global health mission through MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) testing services, antibiotic susceptibility testing, expert consulting, and access to a comprehensive inventory of clinically relevant bacterial strains. Our collection includes pathogens listed by the CDC as top threats to public health, including Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), classified as an urgent threat, and both Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which are categorized as serious threats.
Whether you're developing novel antibiotics, evaluating resistance mechanisms, or conducting detailed efficacy profiling, Emery Pharma is your partner in the fight against antibiotic resistance. Contact us today to see how we can move your research forward!
About the Author
Originally authored by Dr. Kiran Bijlani. This article was reviewed and updated on June 6, 2025 by Dr. Janet Liu, current Director of Biology.
References
"Antibiotic / Antimicrobial Resistance." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC, 17 Aug. 2016. Web.
"Gonorrhea." WebMD. Ed. Traci C. Johnson. 8 Sept. 2016. Web.
"Tuberculosis in Europe and North America, 1800–1922." Open Collections Program: Contagion. Harvard University Library, Web.
