They discover another "powerful" antibiotic that could kill superbacteria
A team of researchers from the University of Illinois (Chicago) has developed a groundbreaking drug, cresomycin, that effectively fights against antibiotic-resistant superbugs. This new drug has demonstrated its ability to eliminate various bacteria that cause severe infections and have become increasingly resistant to existing treatments. The study, published in Science, highlights the potency and lethality of cresomycin against deadly bacteria. Yury Polikanov, one of the co-authors and a university professor, stated that cresomycin surpasses its predecessors in terms of effectiveness.
The development of cresomycin is aimed at combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a major concern when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to withstand treatments. Overuse of antibiotics has greatly contributed to AMR, which already results in five million deaths per year according to the World Health Organization.
The article states that cresomycin has shown efficacy against dangerous bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, responsible for skin and organ infections; Escherichia coli (E. coli), which causes intestinal and urinary tract illnesses; and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which triggers blood and lung infections.
Insufficient investment in research due to the shortage of synthetic antibiotics is a significant hurdle in addressing this resistance. Consequently, healthcare facilities increasingly rely on treatments derived from natural products like penicillins and cephalosporins. However, these treatments are becoming less effective as pathogens evolve and find ways to counter them.
The article’s authors acknowledge the daunting nature of the antibiotic problem but express hope that their findings can pave the way for the discovery of effective antibacterial agents against AMR in the future. Inspired by an antibiotic developed by Roche, the pharmaceutical company, the researchers modified and enhanced cresomycin to achieve its current capabilities.
Tim Walsh, an AMR expert and professor at the University of Oxford, described the results of the cresomycin tests as promising. However, to determine its effectiveness against Gram-negative bacteria, a significant concern in AMR propagation, further data is necessary. He stated that it is challenging to predict the value of this new antibiotic as a singular therapeutic for severe Gram-negative bacterial infections until more analysis is conducted.
Additionally, clinical trials conducted by Roche on an antibiotic targeting a bacteria called Acinetobacter baumannii, resistant to carbapenems (also known as “crab”), have shown promise. Scientists are hopeful that this discovery could lead to potential reformulations to combat other antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The WHO has classified crabs, which cause life-threatening diseases in hospitalized patients, as a priority concern, while the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers them an urgent threat.