Scientists say weakness in "superbug" bacteria could herald new therapies

A weakness in the defences of “superbug” bacteria has been uncovered by British scientists, raising the prospect of new treatments to tackle infections that are resistant to antibiotics.

The researchers have identified a weakness affecting the membrane barrier that surrounds some of the most drug-resistant bacterial cells.

The discovery, reported in the journal Nature, might pave the way to a new generation of drugs that operate by bringing down the defensive wall.

At the heart of their findings is the way “gram damaging” bacterial cells transport the barrier’s molecular “bricks”. Professor Changjiang Dong, from the University of East Anglia’s (UAE) Norwich Healthcare College, said: “We have identified the path and gate utilized by the bacteria to transport the barrier creating blocks to the outer surface. Importantly we have demonstrated that the bacteria would die if the gate is locked.

“This is genuinely critical due to the fact drug-resistant bacteria is a global well being issue. Several current antibiotics are getting to be useless, leading to hundreds of 1000′s of deaths each year.

“The variety of superbugs are escalating at an sudden charge. This analysis provides the platform for urgently required new-generation medication.”

Authorities have warned that the rise of resistant bacteria all around the world poses a worldwide threat better than that of climate adjust. Bugs such as MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) are getting to be increasingly immune even to antibiotics that are the final resort in treatment method, incorporating chance to operations and procedures that must be regimen.

In a report this 12 months England’s chief healthcare officer, Dame Sally Davies, warned that antibiotic resistant bacteria capable of triggering untreatable infections posed a “catastrophic threat”. She referred to as for urgent action throughout the world to address the dilemma.

“Gram-adverse” bacteria, which consist of Escherichia coli (E coli) and the bugs that trigger gonorrhea, cholera and Legionnaire’s disease, are especially resistant to antibiotics. They can evolve a number of mechanisms to make them immune to medication, which includes lowering the permeability of their outer membrane. But if the membrane barrier falls the bacteria die.

Haohao Dong, another member of the UAE crew, stated: “The genuinely interesting issue about this study is that new medicines will exclusively target the protective barrier close to the bacteria, rather than the bacteria itself. Due to the fact new medication will not require to enter the bacteria itself, we hope that the bacteria will not be able to develop drug resistance in long term.”

The Press Association contributed to this report

Scientists say weakness in "superbug" bacteria could herald new therapies