Streptococcus pneumoniae Credit: CDC/ Dr. Richard Facklam and Janice Carr

Researchers have identified a particular protein that enables the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae to become resistant to penicillin.

Normally, penicillin works to destroy bacteria by disrupting their ability to construct a key component of their cell wall.

Antibiotic resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae contains the protein MurM, which counteracts these affects by helping to build-up the bacterial cell wall.

The researchers in the study are hopeful that this discovery could lead to the development of new drugs that will enable penicillin to work effectively against Streptococcus pneumoniae.

For additional information, see:

• How Antibiotic Resistant Bugs Became Resistant To Penicillin, And How Penicillin Could Work Again (Science Daily)