In 2010, scientists identified bacteria which were resistant to the strongest antibiotics in Delhi. The enzyme that makes the bacteria resistant was named after the city - New Delhi Metallo-beta Lactamase or NDM-1. Alexander Fleming who discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin predicted the evolution of smarter germs or superbugs way back in 1945.

This episode of Science of Us traces the history of antibiotics, and how humans have been outwitted by the microbe time after time. We spoke to Dr Ponnari Gottipati, the lead for the initiative, Superheroes against Superbugs that aims to build a community to tackle the growing threat of antibiotic resistance in India. I asked her what drug resistance is.

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