There’s a never-ending war going on all around us, down at the microscopic level. Bacteria and viruses are locked in battle against each other – and us, as we try to clear them out with antibiotics. But we might be losing the war, as the bugs rapidly develop resistance to our best drugs. Now researchers...
Tag: <span>antibiotic</span>
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New antibiotic proves to be effective against river blindness in mice
A team of researchers from the U.K., the U.S., Japan and Germany has developed an antibiotic that kills a type of bacteria necessary for larval growth in the parasitic worm that causes river blindness. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their development of the antibiotic and...
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Alzheimer’s drug may help battle antibiotic resistance
Dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria could soon be targeted with a drug initially developed to treat Alzheimer’s disease. University of Queensland-led research investigated the antibacterial properties of metal transport drug, PBT2. IMAGE: DANGEROUS ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA COULD SOON BE TARGETED WITH A DRUG INITIALLY DEVELOPED TO TREAT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND Professor Mark Walker from UQ’s School...
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Insect antibiotic provides new way to eliminate bacteria
An antibiotic called thanatin attacks the way the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is built. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now found out that this happens through a previously unknown mechanism. Thanatin, produced naturally by the spined soldier bug, can therefore be used to develop new classes of antibiotics. The global emergence of...
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Study finds new single-dose antibiotic safe and effective for uncomplicated gonorrhea
New Orleans, LA -A phase 2 clinical trial led by Stephanie N. Taylor, MD, Professor of Medicine and Microbiology in the Section of Infectious Diseases at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, has found that a new antibiotic effectively treats uncomplicated urogenital and rectal gonorrhea infections in a single oral dose. Results are published in the...
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Reducing harm from unnecessary antibiotic use in long-term care
By Rita Ha and Bradley Langford It has been estimated that up to 50 per cent of prescribed antibiotics in long-term care homes (LTCH) are not needed. Overuse of antibiotics, particularly in older adults, has been associated with an increased risk of harm. These harms include increased risk of side effects, Clostridium difficile infection (CDI),...
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New drug kills antibiotic-resistant bacteria in clinical trial
Antibiotic resistance is a major obstacle that modern medicine is currently grappling with. It has created crisis situations around the world, and researchers are trying to find solutions. One clinical trial is now breaking the superbug barrier. Bacteria can cause a range of infections, and sometimes the best way to fight off these stubborn “bugs” is by using...
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Much-needed new antibiotic shows great promise for treating gum disease
A new antibiotic being developed at the University of Virginia School of Medicine appears ideal for battling the periodontal disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, according to dental researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University led by Richard T. Marconi. Credit: CC0 Public Domain The drug, amixicile, was found to be effective against the...
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Scientists find old antibiotic may selectively kill dangerous skin cancer cells
An old antibiotic, called nifuroxazide, could selectively kill dangerous cells within melanomas, the deadliest type of skin cancer, scientists from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the University of Edinburgh have found. The study, published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology, found the drug showed promise for complementing existing...
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Researchers make FAST work of antibiotic resistance
Researchers from The University of Western Australia have showcased exciting results from a screening test to detect antibiotic resistance and to ensure the right antibiotics can be prescribed quicker. The time-saving solution known as FAST (Flow cytometer-assisted Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing) has been proven to accurately measure how resistant bacteria will be 21 hours faster than the international...