Antibiotic Resistance

Dateline: 12/30/99

We've all heard the horror stories -- due to the prevalent use of antibiotics, resistant strains of bacteria are becoming much more prevalent. These "super bugs" represent a threat to public health since they are resistant to most commonly used antibiotics. Researchers at Brandeis University may have found an approach that will lead to a new type of antibiotic, one that will be effective against resistant strains. These new antibiotics would target the bacteria's ability to become virulent and infect the host cell.

Current antibiotics work by disrupting so-called cell viability processes. Disruption of cell membrane assembly or DNA translation are common modes of operation for current generation antibiotics.

On the other hand, the new antibiotics would work by targeting the mechanisms through which bacteria become virulent. The researchers found that bacteria have "switches" that when activated turn "ordinary" bacteria into pathogenic organisms. These switches are unique in bacteria and are not present in humans. Since the switch is a short-lived protein, elucidating its structure and function was particularly difficult.

Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the researchers were able to regenerate the protein for one and one half days. By extending the timeframe that the protein was in its "active state," the researchers were able to map out its structure.

Bacterial Protein

The scientists are hopeful that the structural results of the study will lead to the development of antibiotics that disrupt the activation of the protein.

What do you think? Will a new class of antibiotics be successful? Are there other ways that we may curb the spread of resistant bacteria? Do you think that the "golden age" of antibiotics is over? Come on over to the Biology Forum and share your thoughts, opinions, and feelings.