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In a significant stride against antimicrobial resistance, scientists from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have pioneered a potentially groundbreaking antibiotic candidate to combat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a notorious hospital superbug. Their innovative methodology could significantly impact the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
The research team at NTNU devised a combination of two novel substances exhibiting remarkable effectiveness in eradicating MRSA, surpassing the efficacy of individual substances. This breakthrough, detailed in the Frontiers in Microbiology journal, presents a potential game-changer in the battle against MRSA and a broad spectrum of bacteria.
Lead author Amanda Holstad Singleton, a doctoral candidate at NTNU, emphasized the urgency of addressing antimicrobial resistance and expressed enthusiasm about the potential impact of their discovery.
The team not only developed a potent antibiotic candidate but also devised a method to analyze how the antibiotic functions within bacterial cells, a crucial step in understanding its mechanisms.
Their methodology involves scrutinizing the reactions of the bacterium’s signaling proteins to the treatment, providing researchers with an unprecedented tool to explore new antibiotic candidates.
Singleton elaborated on their approach, focusing on analyzing signaling proteins vital in controlling bacterial cell functions, enabling a targeted investigation rather than examining the entire spectrum of proteins within the bacterial cell.
Professor Marit Otterlei, also from NTNU, highlighted the unique properties of peptides—a chain of amino acids—as a core element in their antibiotic development. These peptides bind to a critical protein in bacteria essential for DNA replication, leading to the bacterium’s demise.
This distinct mode of action marks a significant advancement, as existing antibiotics do not target this specific protein. Consequently, bacteria have not developed resistance against these peptides, making them effective against multidrug-resistant strains.
The discovery signifies a potential breakthrough in combating MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The research team’s innovative approach and the development of a novel antibiotic candidate provide hope in the relentless battle against antimicrobial resistance.
