Antibiotics

Foods such as yogurts, canned vegetables, and packaged breads frequently include preservatives that leverage the antimicrobial properties of substances like lantibiotics, including those similar to nisin, to ensure their longevity and safety. These additives, while essential for preventing microbial growth that can lead to spoilage, are now being studied for their broader implications on health, particularly their interactions with the human gut microbiome. Recent findings by researchers at the University of Chicago point…

Researchers from the University of British Columbia have discovered a link between micronutrient deficiencies in early life and changes in gut microbiomes, which may contribute to the rising global antibiotic resistance. The study shows that deficiencies in vital nutrients like vitamin A, B12, folate, iron, and zinc lead to an increase in opportunistic pathogens and genes linked to antibiotic resistance in the gut. This finding challenges the traditional view that antibiotic resistance is primarily due to antibiotic…

Antibiotic resistance is causing us all sorts of havoc. It's turning once manageable pathogens into superbugs, hitting our most vulnerable people the hardest.Superbugs were involved with nearly 5 million deaths globally in 2019, so antibiotic resistance is generally not something we at all want to promote in the slightest.But while it's boosting our bacterial nemeses, resistance factors mean our good bacteria are becoming more resistant to antibiotics as well.A new study has found antibiotic resistance genes is also…

An improved understanding of bacterial languages brings us closer to controlling and coordinating the behavior of bacteria. Credit: Ekaterina Osmekhina/Aalto UniversityScientists tease apart the relationships between bacterial languages.Machine learning and laboratory experiments have provided scientists with insights into the different languages bacteria use to communicate. By understanding the ways in which bacteria interact and the circumstances under which their communication is disrupted, researchers can tackle…

It has been known for some time now that chemicals produced by certain ants have antibiotic properties. For the first time ever, however, one species of ant has recently been observed actually using those chemicals to treat infected battle wounds on others of its kind.The species in question, the Matabele ant (Megaponera analis), is found in various regions of Africa south of the Sahara Desert.It feeds exclusively on termites, meaning that groups of the ants periodically have to perform raids on nearby termite colonies.…

By Shana K. Hutchins, Texas A&M University December 27, 2023Scientists have developed a novel family of polymers that effectively kills bacteria, including E. coli and MRSA, without causing antibiotic resistance. This breakthrough, involving multidisciplinary collaboration, marks a significant step in addressing the public health threat posed by superbugs. Credit: SciTechDaily.comDr. Quentin Michaudel and his research team have created a new family of polymers capable of killing bacteria without inducing antibiotic…

A new study highlights the risk associated with feeding dogs a raw meat diet, significantly increasing the likelihood of them excreting ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli. This resistance poses a health risk to both the pets and their owners. The research, involving 600 dogs, underscores the need for safer meat-sourcing practices and cooking meat to eliminate these resistant bacteria. Recommendations include choosing high-quality raw meat or meat from farms with low antibiotic use and implementing stricter industry…

The urgent crisis of antibiotic-resistant superbugs is addressed in groundbreaking research by UMass Amherst and Microbiotix. Their study, focusing on disrupting the Type 3 secretion system of pathogens, offers a novel approach to preventing infections. This strategy, supported by innovative luciferase-based techniques, paves the way for new drugs and enhances our understanding of microbial infections, marking a significant advance in public health. Credit: SciTechDaily.comTeam develops test to identify new drugs that can…

Scientists have discovered a groundbreaking class of antibiotics using AI and explainable deep learning, a first in 60 years. This new class, effective against multidrug-resistant pathogens, showcases the potential of AI in revolutionizing drug discovery and combating antibiotic resistance. Credit: SciTechDaily.comResearchers at MIT, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Integrated Biosciences, the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, and the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research have identified a new…

December 20, 20234min readA deep-learning algorithm helped identify new compounds that are effective against antibiotic-resistant infections in mice, opening the door to AI-guided drug discoveryBy Tanya Lewis Antibiotic resistance is among the biggest global threats to human health. It was directly responsible for an estimated 1.27 million deaths in 2019 and contributed to nearly five million more. The problem only got worse during the COVID pandemic. And no new classes of antibiotics have been developed for decades.Now…