This new compound can destroy the superbug MRSA!

Scientists at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, led by Dr Maisem Laabei and Dr Ian Blagbrough, have discovered a compound
that both inhibits MRSA superbugs and makes them more susceptible to antibiotics.

The new compound is a polyamine that appears to destroy Staphylococcus aureus by damaging the pathogen's cell membrane, which causes deadly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections
.

In vitro tests, the compound was able to fight against 10 different drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, including some known to be resistant to vancomycin, the drug of choice for patients fighting MRSA infection
.
This compound was completely successful for all strains, resulting in no further growth
of bacteria.

Studies have shown that the compound not only directly destroys Staphylococcus aureus, but also restores the sensitivity
of the multidrug-resistant strain of the bacterium to three important antibiotics (daptomycin, oxacillin, and vancomycin).
This could mean that antibiotics that have become ineffective due to decades of overuse may restore their ability to
control serious infections in time.

Dr Laabei, from the University of Bath's Department of Life Sciences, said: "We are not entirely sure why there is a synergy between this compound and antibiotics, but we are keen to explore
further.
"

Weakness of pathogens

Polyamines are natural compounds
found in most living organisms.
Until a decade ago, they were thought to be necessary for all life, but scientists now know that they are both absent and toxic
to Staphylococcus aureus.
Since this discovery, researchers have been trying to inhibit bacterial growth
by exploiting the pathogen's unusual vulnerability to polyamines.

Now, Dr.
Laabei and his colleagues have found that a modified polyamine (named AHA-1394) is more effective
than the most active natural polyamine in eliminating antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus.

Dr.
Laabei explains: "When using our new compound, when the concentration used is more than 128 times lower than that required to use natural polyamines, the pathogen is destroyed, which means growth is inhibited
.
"

"This is important because drugs with the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration may be more effective antimicrobials and safer
for patients.
"

Although further research is needed, Dr.
Laabei believes the new compound "could have important implications
in a clinical setting as a new therapeutic option.
" ”

"Preliminary research shows that this compound is not toxic to humans, which is certainly essential
," he said.
In the next study, which we are seeking funding support, we hope to focus on the precise mechanism by which this compound is used to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus
.
We think this compound attacks the cell membrane of Staphylococcus aureus, causing the membrane to become permeable, leading to the death
of the bacteria.
”

The compound was also tested
on biofilms.
Biofilm is a thin, hard-to-treat microbial layer that grows on hard surfaces, such as plaque on teeth or stubborn membranes on urinary catheters, and can lead to serious infections
.
The results in this regard are also promising, the compound prevents the formation of new biofilms, although does not destroy established biofilms
.

Antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance (or antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to human health around the world, and Staphylococcus aureus has become one of
the most notorious multidrug-resistant pathogens.

A recent study reviewing the health effects of antibiotic resistance in 2019 found that the pathogen was linked to 1 million deaths worldwide because antibiotics do not respond to
infections.

Staphylococcus aureus is present in 30% of the population, lives on people's nasal passages and skin, and most often does not cause infections
.
Until recently, MRSA infections were considered a hospital problem, mostly in people with
compromised immune systems.
However, over the past 20 years, there has been an increase in infections across the community, even among otherwise healthy individuals, for a number of complex and only partially understood reasons, creating a sense of urgent need to find new ways to
address the problem.

"New treatments are urgently needed to treat the infection," Dr.
Laabei said
.

Journal Reference:

1. Edward J.
   A.
   Douglas, Abdulaziz H.
   Alkhzem, Toska Wonfor, Shuxian Li, Timothy J.
   Woodman, Ian S.
   Blagbrough, Maisem Laabei.
   Antibacterial activity of novel linear polyamines against Staphylococcus aureus.
   Frontiers in Microbiology, 2022; 13 DOI: 10.
   3389/fmicb.
   2022.
   948343