Articles tagged with Antibiotic Resistance
A new computational technique analyzes bacterial genetic sequences to monitor the spread of antibiotic resistance over time. The study found that resistance genes most likely to spread are those on conjugative plasmids and targeting specific antibiotics, with many coming from a single source.
Researchers found that healthy individuals have a median of 16 antimicrobial resistance genes in their gut microbiome, varying across countries and antibiotic use. National antibiotic consumption levels correlate with resistance gene frequencies, highlighting the need for public health strategies to mitigate AMR.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have discovered a key role for autophagy in controlling intracellular infections like TB. By boosting this natural process, they hope to create new treatments that can combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Scientists detected the emergence of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Shigella sonnei strains in France, primarily among men who have sex with men. XDR isolates are resistant to virtually all antibiotics, requiring complex treatment and hospitalization.
Cases of Candida auris, a highly contagious fungal infection, rose drastically between 2019 and 2021, with an increase in echinocandin-resistant cases. The findings emphasize the need for improved detection and infection control practices to prevent the spread of C auris.
A study of over 2,800 hospital patients and their companion animals found that sharing multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) between pets and owners is possible. However, the rate of MDRO transmission from pets to humans was very low, suggesting that neither cat nor dog ownership is a major risk factor for hospital-acquired infections.
Researchers have found a new solution to combat resistant staphylococcus aureus infections, which can be difficult to treat. Endolysins, a newly developed enzyme, has been shown to kill both resistant and non-resistant staphylococcus aureus without the need for antibiotics.
Researchers found that fomepizole blocked energy production in bacteria and reduced bacterial burden in mice with pneumonia. The combination treatment prevented invasive disease development, suggesting a potential novel treatment for multidrug-resistant pneumococcal disease.
A recent WHO review reveals a significant shortage of new antibiotics in the pipeline, with only 12 approved drugs introduced between 2017 and 2021. The majority of these drugs target non-critical pathogens, leaving critical ones like Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa underrepresented.
Antimicrobial resistance poses a major threat to human health, with an estimated 4.95 million deaths worldwide in 2019. Researchers identified four research priorities to improve predictive models for antimicrobial-resistant organisms, including better communication and data collection.
Researchers from China conducted a comprehensive review of dual therapy (DT) for H. pylori eradication, highlighting its high efficacy and patient compliance with minimal adverse events. High-dose DT administered over 14 days has emerged as the most effective treatment option.
Researchers at Rice University aim to create genetically encoded antibiotics that selectively kill pathogenic bacteria while sparing beneficial microbes. The goal is to develop targeted, tailored RNA antibiotics to combat antibiotic resistance and improve treatment outcomes.
The study reveals that more than 70% of patients developed urinary tract infections caused by endogenous E. coli strains from their own gut microbiota. The researchers also found that non-lactose-fermenting E. coli strains, less common in other countries, were present in the gut microbiota of some patients.
Scientists have developed a high-throughput genetic screening approach to identify viral proteins that target bacterial cell walls, leading to potential new antibiotics. The method uses a coded library of DNA fragments to investigate unknown genes in environmental samples, sidestepping the need for culturing bacteria.
A recent study highlights the perils of bacteria's secret antimicrobial resistance, which can be difficult to detect using traditional methods. Researchers are exploring new approaches, such as genetic analysis, to identify and prevent the spread of these resistant strains.
Researchers discover that graphene oxide's surface oxygen content is crucial for its antibacterial activity, with different interaction modes leading to distinct effects. Understanding this relationship can help design safer materials and combat antimicrobial resistance.
Researchers develop a novel combination therapy using mitoxantrone and vancomycin to treat vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) infections. The therapy stimulates the host immune system, accelerating wound healing and killing bacteria more effectively.
A study found that a commercial water purifier may have caused Mycobacterium abscessus infections in 4 cardiac surgery patients due to chlorine depletion. The hospital's water system was contaminated via municipal water, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and preventing mycobacteria.
Researchers developed synthetic peptide nanonets that selectively entrap bacteria, rendering them vulnerable to antimicrobial components. The nanonets displayed both trapping and killing functionalities, demonstrating potential as an anti-infective strategy.
A new research agenda aims to apply evolutionary principles to modern diseases, emphasizing the role of environmental factors. By studying natural world adaptations, scientists hope to find new ways to prevent and treat disease, such as adopting antimicrobial approaches inspired by hyenas' ability to thrive on carrion.
Applying evolutionary principles to medicine inspires new ways of preventing and treating disease, including overcoming chemotherapy resistance and antibiotic resistance. Evolutionary-inspired strategies like 'anti-evolution' drugs and extinction therapy can tackle these global health threats.
A new AI-based classification system, AMP-BERT, was developed to identify candidate antimicrobial peptides. The model uses a deep neural network-based architecture and can extract structural and functional information from peptide sequences.
A new study finds that a California policy restricting antibiotic use in animals raised for food is associated with a reduction in one type of antibiotic-resistant infection in people. The study suggests that regulations limiting antibiotics in livestock can significantly impact human health.
Scientists have discovered a new virus that can kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The virus, named Fyn8, was found in local creeks near the University of Southern Denmark campus and has been fully sequenced.
Scientists at University of Warwick and Politecnico di Milano developed a tool to regulate bacterial electric signals with light, opening new avenues for understanding antimicrobial resistance. This technology could help explain how some bacteria survive antibiotic exposure.
The study suggests that human exchanges, such as trade and travel, and exchanges between ecosystems drive the spread of aminoglycoside resistance. Aminoglycoside genes were detected in over 160,000 bacteria genomes across all continents, with most found in clinical, human, and farm samples.
Researchers found that two proteins help MRSA cells pump toxins into their environment. Targeting these proteins could disable MRSA and reduce its virulence.
Decades of wars and conflict in Iraq have led to a catastrophic rise in antibiotic resistance due to destroyed healthcare infrastructure, medicine shortages, and high levels of heavy metal contamination. Research is urgently needed to understand the link between armed conflict and AMR to prevent millions of needless deaths.
A deeper understanding of tumor cell responses to treatment is crucial for improving therapy effectiveness. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute discovered that physical interactions between cells can allow treatment-resistant cells to survive despite growing slower than non-resistant cells. This balance between mechanical cell-cell...
Bacteria can survive antibiotics without acquiring new genes or mutating existing ones by maintaining high electrochemical energies. These high-energy cells exhibit a wide range of energy levels despite being in a state of arrested growth, enabling them to adapt and spread rapidly.
Researchers developed a 'scanning and direct derivatization' method to target polymyxin, an antibiotic of last resort, for treating diseases resistant to conventional drugs. The method generated hundreds of peptide derivatives with varying effects, accelerating drug development.
A global analysis of pharmaceutical sales data reveals that as COVID-19 cases rose, so did antibiotics prescribed to patients, averaging less than 10% bacterial coinfection rates. This study emphasizes the importance of responsible antibiotic use during pandemic treatment.
Researchers at Duke University have created a new approach to controlling cellular biochemical processes by building synthetic compartments that isolate biomolecules. This technique has the potential to be used to understand and fight disease, including the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Scientists discovered a new hexameric structure of RepB protein, which initiates DNA replication for antibiotic resistance plasmids. The study highlights the importance of developing new antibiotics and understanding how resistance spreads.
A study by Dartmouth College researchers found that bacteria can form protective clusters with rival species, making it harder to kill harmful bacteria. This discovery highlights the importance of studying multispecies biofilm structures and may impact the development of bacteriophages and predatory bacteria as antimicrobial alternatives.
A study published by Ruhr-University Bochum found a significant increase in multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in German hospitals since the Ukraine war. Patients from Ukraine are at risk and should be screened prior to hospital admission, researchers recommend.
A new study predicts global antimicrobial use in food-producing animals will increase by 8% by 2030 if stronger regulations are not implemented worldwide. The findings highlight the need for stricter controls on antimicrobial use, which has raised concerns over antimicrobial resistance.
Researchers at the University of Florida have found that silver nanoparticles and aminoglycosides work together synergistically to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The combination reduces the amount of antibiotic needed by 22-fold, making it more potent and potentially reducing side effects.
A genomic study of the Seattle 2017-2022 Shigella outbreak revealed its origin as international travelers from areas where Shigella was common. The study also found that multi-drug resistant Shigella has become a growing global health concern, primarily affecting men who have sex with men and those experiencing homelessness.
Researchers found that carriers of a specific hidden bacteria have a 14% chance of developing an antibiotic-resistant infection within 30 days of hospitalization. The study highlights the significant risk of infections from multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, particularly in patients undergoing 'dirty' surgery.
Researchers successfully treated a young man with recurrent non-gonococcal urethritis caused by Mycoplasma genitalium using chloramphenicol. The patient showed improvement after 14 days of treatment, despite initial failure with first and second-line antibiotics.
Research suggests that a new combination of drugs is needed to find an effective treatment for TB meningitis due to multidrug-resistant strains. The FDA-approved BPaL regimen is not effective in treating TB meningitis because bedaquiline and linezolid cannot penetrate the blood-brain barrier.
Researchers from UC San Diego and Yale University are exploring the therapeutic potential of
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev discovered a new compound derived from marine red microalga that exhibits effective antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungus. The compound's unique structure, featuring long and dense spikes, allows it to poke holes in bacterial membranes and kill off infections.
Scientists at Umea University found a new transporter controlling bacterial cell wall integrity and resistance to antibiotics. The discovery sheds light on muropeptide recycling and its role in bacteria's ability to thrive.
A new antibacterial spray and coating can kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria, reducing the risk of infection in wounds and medical devices. The innovative material has been shown to be effective against MRSA and other resistant bacteria, offering a promising solution to combat antibiotic resistance.
Researchers have clarified relationships between numerous Enterobacter species and optimised resistance testing. Using genome-based taxonomic studies, they found that Enterobacter xiangfangensis accounted for 68.7% of all detected isolates worldwide.
A potent plant toxin called albicidin has emerged as a strong new antibiotic candidate, effective in small concentrations and highly potent against pathogenic bacteria. Its unique mechanism targets the bacterial enzyme DNA gyrase, which is essential for cell function.
Researchers at Aston University have created the world's first computer reconstruction of a virus, including its complete native genome. This breakthrough could lead to the development of targeted treatments to kill bacteria that are dangerous to humans, reducing the threat of antibiotic resistance.
Researchers at the University of Cologne discovered that bacterial membrane potential changes during biofilm formation, correlating with increased antibiotic tolerance. The study found characteristic patterns of polarization that evolve in space and time, which are linked to a change in oxygen availability.
Researchers have designed a treatment that uses a modified bacterium to target and dissolve biofilms caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a leading cause of hospital mortality. The treatment has shown significant efficacy in mice, reducing lung infections and doubling survival rates.
A new study published in Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health found that proper hand hygiene in clinical work can reduce the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The researchers developed a mathematical model to predict how good or poor hygiene affects resistance evolution, and tested it against data from 691 long-term care facil...
A Phase 2 clinical trial found that a probiotic reduced S. aureus colonization by 96.8% in the stool and 65.4% in the nose. The probiotic Bacillus subtilis was administered orally, surviving passage through the stomach, and did not harm gut microbiota.
Researchers at University of Galway outline a potential new treatment option for MRSA infections using purine nucleosides. The study shows that these sugar versions of DNA building blocks can interfere with bacterial signaling systems, making bacteria more susceptible to penicillin-type antibiotics.
Researchers at UConn have identified a protective bacterial culture, Hafnia alvei B16, that can prevent infection by two strains of Salmonella, including those resistant to multiple antibiotics. The culture works by inhibiting the growth of pathogens and reducing their virulence, potentially providing a new path forward in combating su...
Research from Karolinska Institutet found high levels of antibiotic residues in waterways, including wastewater and drinking water, in regions such as China and India. The study suggests these residues contribute to antibiotic resistance, a global threat to human health.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a new class of antibacterial compounds targeting MraY, effective against MRSA and VRE. The findings provide a promising lead for the development of more effective antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Composite wastewater samples taken over 24 hours reveal a more accurate representation of antibiotic-resistant genes, with levels 10 times higher than 'snapshots'. Chlorination can negatively impact water quality, highlighting the need for improved treatment protocols.
Researchers from Florida International University have patented a synthetic antibiotic, arsinothricin (AST), which is effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The team aims to produce large quantities of the drug to combat the growing number of infections that have become resistant to current antibiotics.
A new project aims to develop a method for producing antimicrobial peptides, which have shown promise in overcoming antibiotic resistance. The peptides' ability to delay microbial resistance development makes them an attractive alternative to conventional antibiotics.