New antibiotic could target drug-resistant bacterium: scientists
- Researchers recently identified a new class of antibiotics with the potential to tackle a drug-resistant bacterium, Acinetobacter baumannii.
Antibiotic Zosurabalpin
- Reasearchers reported the identification and analysis of the antibiotic zosurabalpin that can kill Acinetobacter baumannii.
- This bacterium, especially its carbapenem-resistant strains (CRAB), poses a significant challenge in clinical treatment.
- They identified a tethered macrocyclic peptide (MCP) that selectively kills A. baumannii.
- Through optimization for effectiveness and tolerability, zosurabalpin emerged as a promising drug candidate in combating antibiotic-resistant strains.
Unique Mode of Action
- Researchers highlight that zosurabalpin operates through a novel mode of action, inhibiting the transport of lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
- Zosurabalpin targets a protein complex which is crucial for transporting LPS to the bacterial surface to create the outer-membrane structure of Gram-negative bacteria.
- It disrupts the LPS transport, leading to the accumulation of LPS in the bacterial cell, ultimately causing the bacterium's demise.
Efficacy Against CRAB
- The antibiotic was effective against more than 100 CRAB clinical samples tested in the laboratory.
- Furthermore, it considerably reduced the levels of bacteria in mice with CRAB-induced pneumonia.
- It also prevented the death of mice with sepsis, an abnormal immune response induced by CRAB.
Prelims Takeaway
- Antibiotic Zosurabalpin
- Acinetobacter baumannii