Super Antibiotic Platensimycin Discovered For MRSA Superbug, From Soil
Merck scientists have discovered an antibiotic which is effective in destroying MRSA, the hospital superbug. This antibiotic, unlike other antibiotics, blocks the enzymes that produce fatty acids - essential for the construction of the membranes of bacteria.
If it passes clinical trials, it will be only the third new antibiotic type in the last four decades. Most modern antibiotics still work on variations of compounds discovered in the late 1940s to 1950s. Current antibiotics either inhibit a bacterium’s ability to build a membrane or prevent it from creating proteins or DNA.
This fact, that most antibiotics are basically quite similar, may be one of the main reasons for the increasing incidence of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is also the result of overuse of antibiotics.
Any completely new type of antibiotic is great news because it potentially gives us a headstart of many decades in the war against super-bacteria.
The researchers found platensimycin in a soil sample from South Africa. Platensimycin is produced by Streptomyces platensis, an actinomycete bacteria. Platensimycin is found to be a powerful inhibitor of many Gram-positive bacteria, including many Staphylococcus strains.
Platensimycin eliminates S. aureus bacteria, related to MRSA, from infected mice. According to their preliminary investigations, there were no toxic side-effects. After further tests, they found platensimycin to be very effective against MRSA and many other types of bacteria.
This could be welcome news for doctors who are concerned at the rising numbers MRSA infection cases in hospitals throughout most of the world.
Unfortunately it may be several years before this drug is available on market.
via MedicalNewsToday
Filed under Health
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