This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/19/scientists-say-weakness-in-superbug-bacteria-could-herald-new-treatments
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Scientists say weakness in 'superbug' bacteria could herald new treatments | Scientists say weakness in 'superbug' bacteria could herald new treatments |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A weakness in the defences of "superbug" bacteria has been uncovered by British scientists, raising the prospect of new treatments to tackle infections that are resistant to antibiotics. | A weakness in the defences of "superbug" bacteria has been uncovered by British scientists, raising the prospect of new treatments to tackle infections that are resistant to antibiotics. |
The researchers have identified a weakness affecting the membrane | The researchers have identified a weakness affecting the membrane |
barrier that surrounds some of the most drug-resistant bacterial cells. | barrier that surrounds some of the most drug-resistant bacterial cells. |
The discovery, reported in the journal Nature, may pave the way to a new | The discovery, reported in the journal Nature, may pave the way to a new |
generation of drugs that work by bringing down the defensive | generation of drugs that work by bringing down the defensive |
wall. | wall. |
At the heart of their findings is the way "gram negative" bacterial cells transport the barrier's molecular "bricks". | At the heart of their findings is the way "gram negative" bacterial cells transport the barrier's molecular "bricks". |
Professor Changjiang Dong, from the University of East Anglia's | Professor Changjiang Dong, from the University of East Anglia's |
(UEA) Norwich Medical School, said: "We have identified the path and | |
gate used by the bacteria to transport the barrier building blocks to | gate used by the bacteria to transport the barrier building blocks to |
the outer surface. Importantly we have demonstrated that the bacteria | the outer surface. Importantly we have demonstrated that the bacteria |
would die if the gate is locked. | would die if the gate is locked. |
"This is really important because drug-resistant bacteria is a | "This is really important because drug-resistant bacteria is a |
global health problem. Many current antibiotics are becoming useless, | global health problem. Many current antibiotics are becoming useless, |
causing hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. | causing hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. |
"The number of superbugs are increasing at an unexpected rate. This | "The number of superbugs are increasing at an unexpected rate. This |
research provides the platform for urgently needed new-generation | research provides the platform for urgently needed new-generation |
drugs." | drugs." |
Experts have warned that the rise of resistant bacteria around the | Experts have warned that the rise of resistant bacteria around the |
world poses a global threat greater than that of climate change. Bugs such as MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) are becoming increasingly immune even to antibiotics that are the last resort in treatment, adding risk to operations and procedures that should be routine. | world poses a global threat greater than that of climate change. Bugs such as MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) are becoming increasingly immune even to antibiotics that are the last resort in treatment, adding risk to operations and procedures that should be routine. |
In a report this year England's chief medical officer, Dame | In a report this year England's chief medical officer, Dame |
Sally Davies, warned that antibiotic resistant bacteria capable of | Sally Davies, warned that antibiotic resistant bacteria capable of |
causing untreatable infections posed a "catastrophic threat". She called | causing untreatable infections posed a "catastrophic threat". She called |
for urgent action worldwide to address the problem. | for urgent action worldwide to address the problem. |
"Gram-negative" bacteria, which include Escherichia coli (E coli) | "Gram-negative" bacteria, which include Escherichia coli (E coli) |
and the bugs that cause gonorrhea, cholera and Legionnaire's disease, | and the bugs that cause gonorrhea, cholera and Legionnaire's disease, |
are especially resistant to antibiotics. They can evolve a number of mechanisms to make them immune to drugs, | are especially resistant to antibiotics. They can evolve a number of mechanisms to make them immune to drugs, |
including reducing the permeability of their outer membrane. But if the membrane barrier falls the bacteria die. | including reducing the permeability of their outer membrane. But if the membrane barrier falls the bacteria die. |
Haohao Dong, another member of the UAE team, said: "The really | Haohao Dong, another member of the UAE team, said: "The really |
exciting thing about this research is that new drugs will specifically | exciting thing about this research is that new drugs will specifically |
target the protective barrier around the bacteria, rather than the | target the protective barrier around the bacteria, rather than the |
bacteria itself. Because new drugs will not need to enter the bacteria itself, we | bacteria itself. Because new drugs will not need to enter the bacteria itself, we |
hope that the bacteria will not be able to develop drug resistance in | hope that the bacteria will not be able to develop drug resistance in |
future." | future." |
The Press Association contributed to this report | The Press Association contributed to this report |