Doctors are developing alternatives to antibiotics

Possible substance developed against antibiotic resistance

03/11/2014

Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) have been warning for years about the advance of antibiotic resistance. An international research team under Swiss leadership has now developed a substance that could potentially stem the problem.

Treat bacterial infections without antibiotics
Under Swiss leadership, an international research team has developed a substance to treat bacterial infections without the use of antibiotics. As the national news agency SDA reports, the scientists hope that antibiotic resistance can be avoided in the future. The team, led by Eduard Babiychuk and Annette Draeger from the Institute of Anatomy at the University of Bern, refers to the World Health Organization (WHO), which has warned of the worldwide advance of such resistance for years. A major cause of the increase is seen by experts as being that antibiotics are used too often and often unfounded worldwide.

Simple infections can be fatal
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a significant risk to health. When an infection threatens life-threatening consequences such as blood poisoning (sepsis), inflammation of the heart, or the toxic shock syndrome. Even simple infections, such as pneumonia, can be fatal if bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. According to their own statements, the research team has now developed a kind of protective shield with liposomes. According to a report from the University of Bern, this captures the toxin released by the bacteria.

There can be no resistance
Study Director Babiychuk explains in the message: „We have created an irresistible bait for bacterial toxins. That is why they attack the liposomes and are purposefully captured and rendered harmless, without doing any harm to our body cells.“ Because the effect of the liposomes is not directed against the bacteria themselves, according to the researchers, according to the researchers also no resistance. According to co-study leader Draeger "survived mice that have been treated in animal experiments with these liposomes, an otherwise deadly blood poisoning." The study was recently published in the journal „Nature Biotechnology“ released.

Clinical studies in planning
According to the information, the new active substance has been applied for a patent by the technology transfer organization Unitectra Bern, to which the universities of Basel and Zurich are also affiliated. According to the announcement, "the new substance will be further developed as a drug by the Geneva biotech company Lascco and prepared for clinical trials and human use." According to the research team, "An initial clinical trial with patients suffering from severe streptococcal pneumonia is currently in the planning stage". (Ad)