Scientists have developed a new drug that could help fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a major threat to public health.
Every year, around 35,000 people in the U.S. die from infections caused by bacteria that no longer respond to antibiotics.
Another 2.8 million people suffer from illnesses caused by these tough-to-kill bacteria.
Bacteria are constantly evolving, finding new ways to resist antibiotics.
This creates an ongoing battle—scientists develop new drugs, but bacteria eventually adapt, making the drugs less effective. Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, are working on a different approach to stop this cycle.
Their new drug candidate is a modified version of vancomycin, an antibiotic that doctors use as a last resort when treating life-threatening infections.
The improved version of vancomycin works by targeting and neutralizing two key parts of bacterial molecules. This prevents bacteria from building their protective cell walls, making them unable to survive.
Professor James Nowick, one of the study’s lead researchers, explains that the drug acts like a pair of strong hands grabbing onto bacteria and stopping them from functioning.
This dual-target approach makes it harder for bacteria to develop resistance.
The research team believes this discovery could be a major step forward in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
Instead of constantly creating new drugs to outsmart bacteria, this method could provide a long-term solution by attacking bacteria in a way that they may not be able to resist.
Sophia Padilla, a PhD researcher and the study’s lead author, emphasizes the need for a new approach. “Right now, we keep modifying existing antibiotics, but bacteria eventually find a way around them,” she says. “We need to think differently and find ways to stop bacteria from evolving resistance in the first place.”
The researchers hope their work will inspire others to explore innovative ways to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. If successful, this new drug could help save lives and reduce the constant need for new antibiotics.
“This could be a game-changer in how we treat infections,” Padilla says. “We are starting to target bacteria in a way that they might not be able to overcome.”
With further research and testing, this discovery could lead to powerful new treatments that finally give scientists the upper hand in the battle against antibiotic-resistant infections.
