Antimicrob agents ch: "smart" mucus drugs help fight Staphylococcus aureus infection

December 4, 2019 / BIOON / -- in a recent study, the authors attempted to use new antibiotics to eliminate fatal staphylococcal infection, and have shown promising results Bacteria can attach to catheter, artificial joint, implant, burn and wound of patients, and form bacterial biofilm, which is the main reason for the failure of antibiotic treatment and chronic infection In the latest study, Queensland State University researchers developed a combination of antibiotics designed to penetrate the mucus barrier and protect against invasive Staphylococcus aureus infection (image source: www Pixabay Com) the study was led by Anthony verderosa, associate professor and doctoral student of Makrina totsika, and has been published in the top infectious diseases journal, antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy It is found that the mixed antibiotics can play a role by destroying the Staphylococcus biofilm growing in the laboratory "Biofilms are thick mucous membranes that generally prevent the entry of conventional antibiotics into bacterial cells," verderosa said We have developed a new antibiotic that can induce the biofilm to release the protected cells, thus allowing access through the protective mucus coating of the biofilm He said the microscopic compound sends out fluorescent signals that allow researchers to observe drugs that penetrate the biofilm, killing bacteria directly or making them easy to kill Associate professor totsika said that most infections, even those unrelated to implanted medical devices, are related to biofilm formed by bacteria, so the potential of these drugs is great "We are now stepping up pre clinical testing." With the development of hospital acquired infection and antibiotics resistance, medical researchers have to speed up the search and test of new antibiotics (including antibiotic substitutes) The World Health Organization has identified drug-resistant pathogens as one of the "greatest threats to global health today." In addition to the medical field, the research can also be applied to agriculture, biotechnology and other industries, said totsika, associate professor Sources of information: 'clever drugs for slimy bugs' in fight against staph infections original sources: Anthony D verderosa, rabeb dhouib, Kathryn E fairfull Smith, Makrina totsika Nitroxide functionalized antiotics are promising generation agents against Staphylococus aureus biofilms. antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 2019; DOI: 10.1128/AAC.01685-19