Resistance Rising (Paperback)

Resistance Rising: Genetics, Evolution, and the Future of Infectious Disease examines the origins and genetic foundations of infectious diseases, focusing on the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Microbes are not passive adversaries; they evolve, adapt, and share resistance genes through mutation, horizontal gene transfer, and mobile genetic elements such as plasmids, transposons, and bacteriophages. These processes allow pathogens to survive under selective pressures, including those imposed by human activity.

The emergence and spread of resistance is accelerated by the widespread use (and often misuse) of antimicrobials in medicine, agriculture, and environmental systems. Residual antibiotics in soil, water, and waste create ecotoxic stress, fostering evolutionary responses that strengthen microbial survival. This book situates AMR within a co-evolutionary framework, emphasizing that humans and microbes have long shaped each other's evolutionary trajectories. By understanding these dynamics, we can move beyond reactive strategies aimed solely at eradication toward proactive measures that guide microbial populations toward less harmful forms.

Pollo explores the communal nature of microbes, emphasizing how interactions within biofilms, bacterial communities, and broader ecosystems facilitate gene transfer and resistance proliferation. Resistance, therefore, is not merely a medical problem; it is a systems-level phenomenon. Networks of organisms, environments, and human societies all interact, producing outcomes that require an integrated approach combining genetics, ecology, and public health.

Drawing on historical case studies and contemporary research, Resistance Rising illustrates the patterns of resistance emergence and the human role in shaping microbial evolution. From multidrug-resistant tuberculosis to beta-lactamase-producing bacteria, the text demonstrates how genetic mechanisms and environmental pressures converge to produce global health challenges. It advocates for strategies that reduce selective pressures, limit environmental contamination, and emphasize evolutionary stewardship rather than short-term interventions.

The book further highlights the ethical and practical responsibilities of humans in the ongoing evolutionary "arms race." Every antimicrobial introduced into the environment, every misuse in medicine or agriculture, has consequences that ripple through microbial populations. Recognizing these impacts allows for informed interventions that respect the complexity of microbial ecology while preserving the efficacy of life-saving medicines.

Accessible yet scientifically rigorous, Resistance Rising bridges the gap between genetics, evolutionary biology, and systems thinking. It invites researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and informed readers to consider the long-term consequences of human activity on microbial evolution. In the words of Theodosius Dobzhansky, "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." This book provides that evolutionary lens, revealing how humanity can navigate a future shaped by microbes, genetics, and resistance with foresight, responsibility, and strategic action.

Brian Pollo is an MD-PhD candidate, educator, and writer whose work spans biochemistry, ethnomedicine, and the history of science. They study how complement, coagulation, and innate immunity adapt in extreme environments, while also tracing the cultural and symbolic roles of blood in human storytelling. Their writing blends scientific rigor with narrative inquiry, reflecting a commitment to both biomedical innovation and the preservation of ancestral knowledge.