Biotech Updates

Antibiotic Combats Drug-Resistant Bacteria

February 21, 2024

Scientists from the USA produced an antibiotic that can eliminate drug-resistant bacteria. This will help reduce the spread of diseases in humans.

Antibiotics hinder the growth of pathogenic bacteria by binding to their ribosomes. This activity interrupts the bacteria's protein-manufacturing process, which causes its death. However, many bacterial species have developed defenses against this attack.

To address this issue, researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago and Harvard University used X-ray crystallography and identified a defensive tactic used by bacteria. The team then determined how drugs can circumvent this type of bacterial resistance. With their findings, they developed cresomycin, which is an antibiotic that eliminates drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria.

For more information, read the journal article on Nature Chemical Biology.


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