Professor Sophia Padilla, lead author of a new study on antibiotic resistance describes the cycle in an article published in UC Irvine’s American Chemical Society Journal.
- Scientists develop drugs to fight lethal infections
- Bacteria create defenses to the drugs
- Researchers are back at square one
Prof. Padilla terms it as the “antibiotic resistance” crisis. She explains that bacteria build defenses against antibiotics. Then they gain more strength and added protection.
Millions Suffer
Thirty-five thousand individuals in the US die every year from bacterial infections that are antibiotic resistant. Almost three million have illnesses that can be traced to bacteria.
The New Antibiotics
The team created new antibiotics that are a variation of vancomycin which is usually administered when a patient is seriously ill.
Professor James Nowick, study co-leader, explains that the new vancomycin version renders two parts of a disease-causing molecule inactive.
The molecules are found on the surface of bacteria. Binding these molecules, upon which the bacteria rely to build their protective cell wall, may end researchers’ need to continuously develop new drugs that treat new strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Both professors hope their discovery will motivate others to explore non-traditional ways to treat disease-causing molecules.
Source: UC Irvine News
