Researchers have developed a collection of bacterial strains aimed at creating new antibacterial agents to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria.
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have built a library of strains that can be utilized to discover fresh antibacterial compounds to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) found in Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria.
Acinetobacter baumannii (or A. baumannii) is a type of bacteria that is often found in environments like water and soil. This bacterium is recognized as an opportunistic pathogen, meaning it can lead to severe infections, particularly in the bloodstream, urinary tract, lungs (resulting in pneumonia), or open wounds, especially among patients in hospitals or those with weakened immune systems.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified A. baumannii as one of the top priority pathogens, as it is responsible for a significant number of multi-drug resistant infections in healthcare environments. A. baumannii survives in challenging conditions by forming biofilms—groups of microorganisms that adhere to non-living surfaces—and by employing various resistance mechanisms to withstand antimicrobial drugs and other harmful substances. These characteristics have contributed to the worldwide rise of multi-drug resistant and extremely drug-resistant strains.
A study recently published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy discusses how researchers have generated mutant strains through molecular engineering, incorporating different resistance features into A. baumannii bacteria.
These strains will aid researchers in examining the pharmacodynamics and effectiveness of anti-Acinetobacter treatments. This experimental model could be crucial for global readiness against the growing challenge posed by multi-drug and extremely drug-resistant A. baumannii infections.
Dr. Vineet Dubey, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Liverpool and corresponding author, stated: “This innovative strategy provides a powerful means to investigate the pharmacodynamics of new therapies against A. baumannii. Our molecular constructs have shown both stability and ability to cause disease in laboratory experiments, ensuring strong and dependable results. The versatility of our system allows for the investigation of new resistance mechanisms, including the capacity to express various resistance genes, thus helping to analyze the complex resistance networks present in A. baumannii.
