A recent study in PLOS Biology reveals that caffeine can weaken the effectiveness of certain antibiotics by altering how bacteria, like E. coli, respond to them. Caffeine activates a protein in E. coli, reducing the uptake of antibiotics and hindering treatment. This highlights the role of environmental factors, such as caffeine consumption, in antibiotic resistance.A recent study in PLOS Biology reveals that caffeine can weaken the effectiveness of certain antibiotics by altering how bacteria, like E. coli, respond to them. Caffeine activates a protein in E. coli, reducing the uptake of antibiotics and hindering treatment. This highlights the role of environmental factors, such as caffeine consumption, in antibiotic resistance.