| I agree with your statement if it was a single (or a limited number of) species of antibiotic resistance bacteria. But, the problem seems to be that they'll be acting more like a gang (where each gang member is a species of bacteria) by multiplying and transferring their weapons (in this case, antibiotic resistant MCR-1 gene) among different bacteria species by means of horizontal gene transfer[1]. Here, horizontal gene transfer means bacteria don't need to carry the "general pathogenicity" as parts of its genome and transfer to future generations (by sexual/asexual re-production)[2]. They only have to be good (and will be damn good by MCR-1 gene) at whatever pathogen they carry. "Horizontal gene transfer" will take care of the rest. I think we'll get a better idea of the problem I'm trying to explain if we look at it from "Unix philosophy" perspective which "favors composability as opposed to monolithic design"[3]. I hope that I'm decidedly proven wrong in this regard. But, it's just a hope. Note: I don't have any formal education/background in medical sciences. --- [1] http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-30... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizontal_gene_transfer [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_philosophy |