Scientists have developed a new type of antibiotic to fight resistant bacteria – study
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Scientists say they have developed a new type of antibiotic capable of fighting resistant bacteria that often lead to death.
This is reported by CNN with reference to a study published in the scientific journal Nature.
According to scientists, the bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii is resistant to carbapenems – broad-spectrum antibiotics. It can cause lung, urinary tract and blood infections.
Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) topped the World Health Organization’s list of “priority pathogens” in 2017. It is the cause of 20% of infections in intensive care units around the world.
| Bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii under a microscope. Photo: Wikipedia |
In particular, in 2023, this bacterium caused approximately 8,500 infections in hospitalized patients and 700 deaths in the United States.
However, it is most common in Asia and the Middle East. Most often, Acinetobacter baumannii is found in hospitals and homes for the elderly. People who are on a ventilator, have a catheter, or have open wounds after surgery are at the highest risk of infection.
Researchers from Harvard University and the Swiss medical company Hoffmann-La Roche claim to have invented a new antibiotic that effectively fights Acinetobacter baumannii – “Zosurabalpin”.
“This is a new approach, both to the compound itself and to the mechanism by which it kills bacteria.” – said Kenneth Bradley, co-author of the study.
The bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii is protected by internal and external membranes. This makes treatment difficult, so scientists focused on identifying and refining a molecule that could penetrate these membranes and kill the bacterium.
They studied 45,000 small antibiotic molecules in detail and after years of research focused on one.
Scientists claim that “Zozurabalpin” inhibits the growth of Acinetobacter baumannii and prevents the movement of lipopolysaccharides to the outer membrane to maintain its integrity.
This causes the molecules to accumulate inside the cell. Their level becomes so toxic that the bacterium dies.
“Zozurabalpin” proved to be effective against more than 100 clinical samples of CRAB. It significantly reduced bacteria levels in mice with pneumonia and prevented the death of mice with sepsis.
According to the authors of the study, “Zozurabalpin” is currently in the first phase of clinical trials. It is necessary to assess the level of its safety and pharmacological effect in humans.
The modified molecule will only work against the specific bacteria it is designed to kill. However, scientists say that the approach used can help in the fight against other bacteria that are difficult to treat – in particular, E. coli.
It will be recalled that the study showed that one course of antibiotics per year increases the risk of developing sepsis by 70%.
Read also: “We can see how our grandchildren die of pneumonia.” Deputy head of the Ministry of Health Dubrov about the hidden danger of antibiotics
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