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Thiruvananthapuram, May 14: In a significant advance against the global threat of antibiotic resistance, a team of Indian scientists at the BRIC-Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) has identified an innovative method to restore the effectiveness of antibiotics by targeting bacterial protein channels known as porins.
The research, published in the journal Small, is the result of a collaboration between RGCB, IIT Madras, and TIFR Hyderabad. It focuses on the notorious pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae, which the World Health Organization has listed as a high-priority superbug due to its ability to evade treatment by blocking antibiotics from entering the bacterial cell.
Led by Dr. Mahendran’s team at RGCB, the scientists homed in on a specific porin, CymAKp, responsible for transporting cyclic sugars into bacteria. Their findings suggest that by exploiting such porins, it may be possible to enhance the uptake of antibiotics, making resistant bacteria vulnerable once again.
“This interdisciplinary research opens exciting new avenues to outsmart bacterial resistance by enabling antibiotics to reach their targets more effectively,” said RGCB Director Prof. Chandrabhas Narayana, calling the work a major step forward in the fight against drug-resistant infections.
The study was supported by the Department of Biotechnology, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, and RGCB’s own funds. Experts say this discovery could pave the way for next-generation therapies that address antibiotic resistance at its source, offering hope in a world where common infections are becoming increasingly difficult to treat.
“Through an innovative approach, the team targeted porins to enhance antibiotic effectiveness against resistant bacteria. Their findings from the collaborative study promise to make antibiotics more effective,” noted a summary of the research.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on preliminary scientific findings published by the BRIC-RGCB and its collaborators. While the results are promising, further research and clinical trials are necessary before this approach can be translated into routine medical treatments. Readers are advised to consult healthcare professionals for medical advice and not to interpret this report as a substitute for professional guidance.
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