Fabycin could be used to combat persistent urinary tract, lung, and even bloodstream infections caused by gram-negative bacteria.
An international team of researchers recently published a study in the journal ACS Central Science in which they claim to have discovered a new molecule capable of dealing with hundreds of types of bacteria that have become resistant to drugs.
denominated fabycinthis molecule could be used to combat persistent infections of the urinary tract, lungs and even the bloodstream caused by bacteria gram negativegenerally difficult to eradicate with known antibiotics because they have a protective outer membrane that acts as a shield against harmful substances.
“Genomic studies and experiments with permeability-deficient strains have revealed a variety of biological targets that may be involved in killing gram-negative bacteria,” the researchers write. “Nevertheless, the formidable outer membrane and the promiscuous expulsion pumps of these pathogens prevent many candidate antibiotics from achieving these targets.”
The scientists stress that fabimycin overcomes these problems by passing through the outer layer of the cell, evading protective mechanisms. In addition, this molecule prevents the elimination of commensal bacteria—those that are beneficial to the human body—another problem that many current treatments present.
In laboratory tests, fabimycin had an effect on more than 300 types of drug-resistant bacteria and reduced levels of harmful bacteria in mice with pneumonia or urinary tract infections.
“Given the promising activity of fabimicin in mouse models of infection and the encouraging data that fabimicin is much more stable in human plasma […] it is reasonable to believe that its efficacy may improve as it is used to treat infections in higher organisms”, add the researchers, who conclude that “the potency” of this molecule, “combined with the apparent lack of pre-existing resistance”, constitute “a bode well”.
For now, the team will focus on preparing fabymycin for use in human trials so it can eventually be incorporated into widely used drugs.
Source: RT
