Scientists Created An Antibiotic Effective Against Resistant Bacteria
US researchers have created a new antibiotic that they say works against antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.
A synthetic antibiotic called cresomycin has proven effective against multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli u Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Two of these bacteria are included in the World Health Organization’s list of priority pathogens for which new antibiotics are “urgently needed.”
Krezomycin is not yet a drug and is not ready for clinical trials in humans. But it represents a fairly promising step toward new treatments the nonprofit is pursuing to combat superbugs gave his Harvard creator $1.2 million this week to develop cresomycin and similar substances for the production of new oral antibiotics.
“I have never been more optimistic and excited about a project,” said Andrew Myerschemic of Harvard University, whose lab developed the molecule.
The new molecule is one of several developed by the team and is inspired by a class of antibiotics called lincosamides. These include the commonly prescribed clindamycin, an antibiotic used to treat serious bacterial infections.
The new antibiotic cresomycin targets the bacterial ribosome and has improved ability to bind to it.
Although in some cases bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics that target the ribosome by producing enzymes that interfere with the drug’s ability to bind to it, this antibiotic is very similar to its target, making it more effective.
