The pathogen, characterized by high resistance to currently available treatments, is known to cause serious infections of the lungs, urinary tract and blood
Scientists from Harvard University and the Swiss healthcare company Hoffmann-La Roche, have developed an antibiotic with the potential to fight a dangerous infection bacterium for which there is no specific treatment yet, and classified as a priority pathogen World Health Organization (WHO).
A Acinetobacter baumanii, also known by the acronym Crab, in English, is a bacterium that is characterized by being highly resistant to antibiotics, largely due to the presence of two protective membranes, one internal and one external, in its structure.
The Harvard and Hoffmann-La Roche study, the results of which were published in the scientific journal Nature this Wednesday, 3, the goal was precisely to develop a molecule capable of crossing double membranes and killing bacteria.
After years of work, and examining 45 thousand small molecules, scientists have arrived at the development of zosuralpina, drug which, in practice, inhibits the Acinetobacter baumannii carry out the action of sending molecules called lipopolysaccharides towards the external membrane, making it less resistant.
This impediment to the delivery of liposaccharides causes the accumulation of these liposaccharide molecules inside Acinetobacter baumanniicausing the death of the pathogen due to the high level of toxicity within the cells of the ultra-resistant bacteria.
“(The antibiotic) It works by blocking the creation or formation of this outer membrane,” said Kenneth Bradley, global head of infectious disease research at Roche Pharma, as reported by CNN in the US.
According to the research, zosurabalpine was effective against more than 100 clinical Crab samples tested. The antibiotic reduced bacteria levels in mice with pneumonia-induced Acinetobacter baumannii and it also prevented the death of rats suffering from sepsis caused by the pathogen.
Resistant bacteria are also known to affect many hospital and nursing home patients and cause serious lung, urinary tract and blood infections, possibly leading to death in infected people.
In 2017, the WHO published a list of 12 families of drug-resistant bacteria that pose a threat to human health. The list was compiled in an effort to guide and promote research and development of new antibiotics.
The bacteria were divided into three categories depending on the urgency or need to develop new antibiotics to fight them: critical, high and medium priority. A Acinetobacter he was included, by the organization, in the first group.
At the moment, however, the medicine is not expected to be available for sale or consumption anytime soon. Zosurabalpine is in phase 1 clinical trials to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacology of the molecule in humans, according to the study authors.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
