Researchers discover highly effective antibiotic

New active ingredient acts on resistant germs

08/01/2015

Experts have warned of a strong worldwide increase in antibiotic resistance for many years, as this could lead to more and more infectious diseases becoming fatal in the future. But now American researchers at Northeastern University in Boston have apparently discovered a new highly effective antibiotic that is against the dangerous ones „superbugs“ could help.

Experts warn „post-antibiotic era“
For years, health experts warn again and again before the onset of a „post-antibiotic era“, what is meant by an era in which antibiotics lose their medical effectiveness for humans. The reason: The bacteria are increasingly developing resistance, so that antibiotics in case of need may no longer work. This phenomenon is not new, on the contrary, it has been occurring since the discovery of the first antibiotics in the 1940s. But that was not a problem at the time, as more and more antibiotics were discovered, which were able to inhibit the growth of bacteria or kill them. But this is different today, because in recent times there is simply a lack of sufficiently innovative antibiotics, the so-called new ones „superbugs“ to fight effectively.

Researchers are studying around 10,000 soil bacteria
However, American scientists from Northeastern University in Boston may have discovered a new weapon against the pathogens. According to the researchers in the journal "Nature", it was possible to use a new method of cultivation to identify a novel and highly effective active ingredient that would be produced by a previously unknown soil bacterium. Researchers led by investigator Kim Lewis had studied about 10,000 soil bacteria in the laboratory for their study and discovered the bacterium "Elefhtheria terrae", which was able to develop an antimicrobial agent. It is the scientists according to the so-called „teixobactin“, a substance that prevents cell wall build-up, causing the bacterial cell to burst and die.

Teixobactin does not cause any toxic side effects in mice
„Teixobactin is a promising candidate for a therapeutic. It has been shown in a number of infections in the animal model to be effective against pathogens that already had antibiotic resistance. Binding of teixobactin to the cell wall's cellulosic acids contributes to the efficient dissolution of cells and killing“, the scientists report „Nature“. The new active ingredient convinced the researchers, above all, that it was also effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, for example against the so-called „hospital germs“ Staphylococcus aureus or Clostridium difficile as well as against the causative agents of anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) and tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). However, it was different in most gram-negative bacteria, the here the drug had no effect, the scientists continue. Teixobactin did not show any toxic side effects in the infected mice in the model experiments, but now the substance has to be tested in humans in the next step. (No)