Fig. 1
From: Fierce poison to others: the phenomenon of bacterial dependence on antibiotics
Antibiotic sensitivity, resistance and dependence. Different bacterial responses to antibiotic exposure are represented in E-test assays and growth in liquid media. A drug-sensitive bacteria is inhibited by the antibiotic gradient emanating from the E-test strip in a concentration-dependent manner (growth is represented by a brown lawn). In liquid medium, the addition of antibiotics avoids the growth of the bacteria. An antibiotic-resistant bacteria is able to grow adjacent to the E-tes strip and its growth is barely affected by the presence of antibiotics in liquid medium. The growth of dependent bacteria is only observed in the area where the antibiotic has diffused from the E-test strip. In liquid media, its growth curve is significantly improved by the addition of the antibiotic