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HomeHealthBodyRevolutionary Dual-Action Antibiotic: Tackling Bacterial Resistance Effectively

Revolutionary Dual-Action Antibiotic: Tackling Bacterial Resistance Effectively

A recent study from the University of Illinois Chicago unveiled a groundbreaking antibiotic that disrupts two cellular targets, making it extremely challenging for bacteria to develop resistance.

The research, published in Nature Chemical Biology, focused on a class of synthetic drugs known as macrolones that combat infectious diseases by interfering with bacterial cell function in two ways: by hindering protein production or distorting DNA structure.

By targeting two different cellular mechanisms, macrolones present a significant obstacle for bacteria seeking to defend against these attacks simultaneously, rendering the development of drug resistance nearly impracticable.

According to Alexander Mankin, a distinguished professor at UIC, the dual-target approach of this antibiotic prevents bacteria from developing resistance through random mutations in either of the two cellular functions.

Macrolones are a novel class of synthetic antibiotics that merge the actions of two different antibiotic types: macrolides like erythromycin that inhibit protein production and fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin that target the bacteria-specific enzyme DNA gyrase.

Researchers at UIC, led by Yury Polikanov, Alexander Mankin, and Nora Vázquez-Laslop, examined the cellular effects of various macrolone drugs. Their findings indicated that macrolones bind more effectively to ribosomes, the cell’s protein-manufacturing factories, compared to traditional macrolides, even in macrolide-resistant bacteria.

Through a series of experiments, the team assessed the efficacy of different macrolone drugs in inhibiting ribosomes and DNA gyrase enzymes. One particular design that interfered with both targets simultaneously at low doses showed the most promise in preventing bacteria from developing a simple genetic defense.

This study, conducted through interdisciplinary collaboration at UIC, signifies a significant step in understanding the effectiveness of dual-action antibiotics in combating bacterial resistance and emphasizes the need to optimize macrolones to target both cellular functions efficiently.

Key UIC researchers involved in this study alongside Mankin, Polikanov, and Vázquez-Laslop include Elena Aleksandrova, Dorota Klepacki, and Faezeh Alizadeh.