Antechokinetics, the kinetics of antimicrobial resistance molecules

Antechokinetics is a related term to pharmacokinetics in which the focus shifts from drug kinetics to molecular kinetics of antibiotic-resistance. The term “antechó” is derived from the Greek word for “resistance.” The body is a multi-compartmental entity, and the bacterial cell is also composed of compartments. These compartments change much more rapidly than in a multicellular eukaryotic organism. There is currently a lack of knowledge regarding the antechokinetics of the molecules involved in antibiotic detoxification, but this is a field that requires further development. In this Review, we provide a summary of the current state of knowledge on the presence of antibiotic-resistance molecules in bacterial cells, focusing on their ribosomal production and eventual acquisition via exosomes or permeation. Next, we will examine their bacterial intracellular distribution, bioavailability, metabolism, and excretion. Future studies that consider the combined effects of antibiotic cellular pharmacokinetics and antechokinetics on a cellular level could be a fruitful area of research for the development of novel strategies to combat antibiotic-resistant infections.