Articles tagged with Antibiotic Resistance
A new rational drug design technique identifies molecules targeting multiple receptor sites on key cellular proteins, making it challenging for microbes to develop resistance. The technique has been validated and shows potential in battling drug resistance and even cancer cells.
Researchers found decreasing rates of resistance to oxacillin and other antibiotics in Staphylococcus aureus, while ceftaroline remained highly active against MRSA. The study's findings suggest a potential decrease in the prevalence of community-acquired MRSA, highlighting the importance of monitoring antimicrobial resistance.
Ready-to-eat foods such as dairy products and fresh produce contain antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can be directly consumed or contaminate kitchen surfaces. Organic produce had higher levels of resistance than dairy products.
A team of researchers at Kiel University has developed a new strategy to combat multi-resistant pathogens by identifying which antibiotics can lead to increased susceptibility to other drugs. This concept, known as 'collateral sensitivity', offers hope in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
Shigella uses multiple mechanisms to resist bile salts in the small intestine, including antibiotic resistance and increased virulence gene expression. The formation of protective biofilms allows the bacteria to survive transit through the small intestine and infect tissues in the colon.
Studies show a prevalence rate of 50-82% among hospitalized patients in Egypt's largest cities, while community-acquired MRSA rates range from 19-47%. Molecular characterization reveals various SCCmec types, highlighting the need for national surveillance and awareness.
A Canadian research team found a new antibiotic resistance gene, fosA7, in Salmonella from broiler chickens, which confers high resistance to the antibiotic fosfomycin. The researchers tested the gene's strength and confirmed its ability to boost resistance levels by over 256-fold.
Scientists at UCLA developed a laboratory test to determine the most effective treatment for gonorrhea. The new test led to a significant increase in the use of ciprofloxacin, from 0% to 34%, while reducing the use of ceftriaxone from 100% to 66%. This shift may help slow down the emergence of antibiotic resistance.
A study of 3,434 US MDR TB patients found that those on directly observed therapy had a 77% decrease in mortality compared to self-administered therapy. The study suggests that maximizing direct observation therapy coverage can help reduce all-cause mortality among MDR TB patients.
A global health threat, superbugs are bacteria resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Monash University researchers identified the first important clues on how to counter superbug strategies, using electron microscopes and comparing data from antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus samples with non-resistant strains.
The RESET and MedVet-Staph networks have investigated the development, spread, and mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics in humans and animals. Key findings include widespread occurrence of ESBL- or AmpC-producing E. coli in livestock and increasing hospital-acquired infections with these enterobacteria.
Cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis are expected to rise significantly in India, the Philippines, Russia, and South Africa between 2000 and 2040. The growing epidemic is predicted to be driven by person-to-person transmission, rather than strains acquiring resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs.
Researchers at McGill University have discovered how specific bacterial enzymes, known as kinases, confer resistance to macrolide antibiotics. The study provides a detailed atomic view of the kinases and their interaction with different macrolide antibiotics, paving the way for the design of next-generation antibiotics.
Researchers developed an antimicrobial treatment inspired by naturally-occurring peroxidase enzymes that rapidly kill drug-resistant bacteria. The treatment consists of iodo-thiocyanate complexes producing highly reactive anti-microbial substances without a peroxidase enzyme.
The ResistoMap tool helps identify national trends in antibiotic use and control antibiotic resistance globally. By analyzing human gut microbiota, the map reveals correlations between antibiotic use patterns and resistome variations, shedding light on the global battle against antibiotic resistance.
Researchers review key two-component systems in pathogens causing CF lung disease, finding potential for histidine kinase inhibitors to treat infections. TCS inhibitors alone or combined with existing treatments show promise for addressing antibiotic resistance in CF patients.
Researchers have developed a quick and accurate diagnostic test for bacteria resistant to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic. The test can distinguish between bacteria with plasmid-encoded resistance, which is considered more dangerous, and those that are not.
A new study at the University of Nevada, Reno has found a potential way to reduce triclosan's presence in the environment, which is linked to antibiotic resistance. The research discovered that a combination of metal-reducing bacteria and natural organic matter can degrade triclosan faster.
Researchers identified a compensatory mechanism in bacteria that can be used as a new therapeutic target against multi-drug resistant bacteria. The study found that the pace of adaptation in multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli strains is faster than for strains with single resistance mutations.
A preclinical study found that an antimicrobial protein called EntV reduces the severity of oral thrush in a mouse model, blocking fungal growth and development. This new strategy may lead to the development of a novel antifungal drug that can combat multidrug-resistant yeast strains.
Researchers developed a new treatment pathway removing antibodies from the bloodstream to reduce chronic infections and hospital stays. The approach showed positive outcomes for two patients with resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections.
Chinese scientists have developed a fluorogenic probe, CVB-1, to detect the activity of multidrug-resistant carbapenemases in an assay system. This technique allows for rapid detection of antibiotic resistance activity by fluorescence, enabling specific treatment strategies and reducing the overuse of ineffective drugs.
The global rise of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant threat to progress made in controlling the disease. The emergence of extensively drug-resistant TB is associated with high mortality and is a serious public health problem.
Researchers have developed a new class of compounds called lysine-conjugated aliphatic norspermidine analogues (LANAs) that effectively kill certain bacteria, including MRSA. Testing on mice showed that the compounds can eliminate MRSA skin infections with no signs of acute toxicity or resistance development.
Researchers have discovered a new way to restore antibiotic susceptibility in multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli strains. By identifying genes essential for survival of MDR superbugs in the presence of antibiotics, the team developed innovative drugs that can defeat resistant bacteria.
The NIH-funded Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group has reviewed over 70 study proposals and initiated more than 30 clinical studies to address antibacterial resistance. The group's key accomplishments include the launch of the CRACKLE study, a prospective multicenter cohort study designed to characterize CRE infections.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have broken the limit of organic synthesis, allowing for more efficient gene and drug delivery. The study suggests that the conformation of the core molecule plays a role in this self-limiting growth phenomenon.
Researchers have discovered a new variant of the mcr-1 gene in a healthy individual carrying Salmonella, highlighting the potential for spread of antimicrobial resistance. The finding raises concerns about food safety and the need for increased monitoring of this gene and its variants.
Innovative ways to target antibiotic resistance include combining antibiotics with non-antibiotics, such as loperamide, which enhances effectiveness against multi-drug resistant bacteria. Rapid diagnostic tests that can quickly identify bacterial infections and their resistance to antibiotics are also crucial in reducing further develo...
Researchers identified cultural factors influencing transmission of antimicrobial resistant bacteria from livestock to humans in Tanzania. The study found Maasai households were less likely to follow withdrawal periods, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Research reveals bacterial spread from drainpipes to patients occurs via a staged mode of transmission, with colonies growing towards sink strainers before splattering onto surfaces.
A new national study found a 700-percent surge in antibiotic-resistant infections among children in the US, with more than 75 percent already present when admitted to hospital. The study also shows that infected children stayed 20% longer in hospital and faced greater risk of death.
A new study published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society found that resistant infections caused by bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family are increasing in U.S. children, associated with longer hospital stays and a trend towards greater risk of death.
A Rutgers-led study found that oil and gas wastewater spills altered the diversity, numbers, and functions of microbes in West Virginia stream water and sediments. The changes indicated shifts in respiration and nutrient cycling, as well as signs of stress, but did not reveal hot spots of high antibiotic resistance.
Scientists have detected antimicrobial protein fragments in Komodo dragon blood that help resist deadly infections. Eight peptides from the plasma showed significant potency against bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, offering a potential lead for new therapeutics.
Researchers at Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard discovered novel genetic mutations promoting antibiotic resistance in bacteria. These mutations enhance resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics, including non-ribosomal targets, while reducing growth rates.
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a multi-drug resistant microbe causing severe infections with mortality rates of 25-60 percent. Researchers have identified the underlying molecular explanations preventing treatment, highlighting the need for innovative solutions to counteract its effects.
A study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy reveals that epidermicin is as effective as mupirocin in eradicating MRSA from cotton rats' nostrils. The results justify further development of epidermicin as an alternative to existing antimicrobial agents.
Researchers found that 80% of online pharmacies let customers choose their own dosages and treatments, increasing the risk of serious side effects and antimicrobial resistance. This can lead to infections being undertreated or over-treated, allowing bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotics.
Researchers have discovered a new, potent antibiotic against MRSA and VRE bacteria. The formicamycins produced by Streptomyces formicae isolated from an African plant-ant show promising activity in early tests.
A new method called poreFUME can rapidly detect resistance genes in gut bacteria, leading to improved treatment outcomes. The study found the method to be 97% accurate and significantly cheaper than current methods.
A recent study found that antibiotic use among travelers increases the risk of contracting antibiotic-resistant ESBL intestinal bacteria. In fact, up to 80% of those taking antibiotics brought the most resistant strains back home with them. The use of antibiotics while traveling selects for the broadest spectrum of resistance.
Researchers found that bacteria can quickly adapt to antibiotic treatments by evolving dormancy mechanisms. Once tolerant, they rapidly acquire resistance mutations, making it difficult for antibiotics to kill them. This discovery has important implications for the development of new antibiotics.
A new study reveals that disease-causing bacteria become resistant to antibiotics by acquiring mutations that allow them to tolerate the antibiotic. The research found that strains with pre-existing tolerant mutations developed resistance more quickly than those without tolerance.
A large-scale study detected high levels of antibiotic resistance genes in estuaries along China's coastline, with some samples containing up to 100 million genes per gram of sediment. The study suggests that human activity, particularly inadequate wastewater treatment, is the primary cause of this environmental pollution.
Researchers have discovered a novel combination therapy that successfully treats infections caused by a pernicious form of antibiotic resistance. The treatment regimen, which includes ceftazidime/avibactam and aztreonam, overcomes the resistance caused by metallo-ß-lactamases, a growing global public health problem.
A rapid genotypic resistance test for colistin has been developed to detect the mobile resistance gene mcr-1, which threatens emergency antibiotics. The test demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity in detecting mcr-1 on plasmids.
A UCL-led study published in Scientific Reports discovered that certain antibiotics, such as oritavancin, can still kill drug-resistant bacteria by exerting strong mechanical forces on their cell surfaces. The findings open up a promising new way to overcome antibiotic resistance and could lead to the development of more effective drugs.
Researchers at the University of Lincoln have determined the molecular structure of a new antibiotic, teixobactin, which holds promise in tackling drug-resistant bacteria. The discovery reveals that the antibiotic's disordered structure is essential for its biological activity, providing insight into how to produce effective derivatives.
A recent study found the mcr-1 gene has spread to a wide variety of Escherichia coli strains in China, raising concerns about the emergence of multi-drug resistance. The introduction of colistin in clinical settings is crucial, but caution must be exercised due to risk factors for its spread.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a molecule that neutralizes bacteria's genetic resistance to antibiotics. The PPMO molecule restores the effectiveness of an ultra-broad-spectrum drug, meropenem, against three different genera of bacteria with NDM-1 enzyme.
Scientists have identified two bacteriophages, dubbed superspreaders, that promote the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in bacterial communities. These phages, SUSP1 and SUSP2, can efficiently release plasmid DNA intact upon phage lysis, which may drive bacterial evolution in natural environments.
A new report calls for improved fungal disease diagnosis to reduce antibiotic resistance. Inadequate attention to fungal infections leads to overprescription of antibiotics, resulting in harmful resistance and increased healthcare costs. The report highlights four clinical situations where fungal disease misdiagnosis worsens the problem.
A UK-based international team of researchers has made a breakthrough in understanding the mechanism of mcr-1 gene-mediated resistance to colistin. They identified key features necessary for the protein that modifies bacterial surface to reduce colistin binding, and constructed computer models to block MCR-1 function.
Researchers found that susceptible bacteria can survive longer when resistant bacteria are present and even outcompete them. This new understanding can inform doctors on how to use antibiotics more effectively, but also highlights the need for a personalized-medicine approach.
A study sequencing genomes of Shigella sonnei isolates found two clusters of outbreaks, one causing severe gastrointestinal problems due to a toxin gene acquired from other Shigella species and another resistant to fluoroquinolone antibiotics. The findings provide insights into the bacteria's virulence and antibiotic resistance genes.
Researchers at UConn have developed experimental antibiotics that successfully target and kill MRSA bacteria by blocking the enzyme pathway critical to its survival. By understanding the molecular structure of the enzyme and designing tailored inhibitors, the team created compounds that evade previously resistant strains.
A landmark trial found that shortened antibiotic courses for ear infections in young children (9-23 months) resulted in more treatment failures and adverse events without reducing antibiotic resistance. The study showed a significantly higher risk of recurrent infections when residual fluid was present after treatment.
A new approach to prevent burn injury infections was developed by UTSW researchers, which targets the bacteria's ability to bind to host cells rather than killing them. The method, using an engineered adhesion inhibitor molecule, substantially decreased bacterial levels and prevented infection for three days.
A new battery-powered detection system can identify 16 virulent pathogens with high sensitivity and provides positive identification from as few as 10 DNA sequences. The device is designed for use in remote locations where laboratory resources are lacking, addressing the lack of timely diagnosis and effective treatment.