GENOME WIDE ASSOCIATION STUDY (GWAS) FOR IDENTIFYING GENETIC MARKERS LINKED TO ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN E.COLI

Abstract

The emergence and rapid dissemination of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli (E. coli) represent a pressing global health threat, undermining the efficacy of current antimicrobial therapies. E. coli, being both a commensal and a pathogenic bacterium, serves as a key model organism for studying resistance mechanisms due to its genetic versatility and clinical importance. Traditional approaches to studying resistance genes have often been limited to known targets, potentially overlooking novel or epistatic contributors. Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have revolutionized our ability to systematically identify genetic variants, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), mobile genetic elements, and regulatory regions, that are statistically linked to antibiotic resistance phenotypes in E. coli. This review highlights key GWAS findings, such as associations with mutations in gyrA, parC, and the acquisition of resistance genes like blaCTX-M and mcr-1. Moreover, we explore how GWAS integrates with pan-genomics and machine learning to improve our understanding of multidrug resistance. Future implications include the development of predictive biomarkers, enhanced surveillance, and the tailoring of antimicrobial therapies. GWAS, therefore, offers a powerful, unbiased strategy for mapping the genetic architecture of resistance in E. coli, with broad potential in clinical microbiology and public health.