Tag

Antibiotic Resistance

All articles tagged with #antibiotic resistance

health8 days ago•6 min saved

Shorter antibiotic courses often work as well as longer ones, new review finds

A review of more than 120 randomized trials shows shorter antibiotic courses are often as effective and safer than longer ones for many common infections, challenging the long-standing guidance to always finish the full course. The findings emphasize tailored clinician–patient communication to determine duration, note that many people still prefer longer courses due to prior guidance, and warn that some infections require longer treatment; results are published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases and more than 90% of surveyed US respondents trust their doctor.

via ScienceAlert|

#antibiotic-duration #antibiotic-resistance #antibiotics

science18 days ago•7 min saved

AI Designs 16 New Bacteriophages to Fight Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Researchers used AI to design thousands of bacteriophage genomes, synthesized 300 candidates, and identified 16 novel, functional phages capable of infecting E. coli and overcoming bacterial resistance in tests; the work suggests potential AI‑driven phage therapies but raises biosafety and regulatory concerns about rapid, large‑scale pathogen design.

via WIRED|

#ai #antibiotic-resistance #bacteriophages

technology18 days ago•4 min saved

AI designs complete viral genomes, sparking biosafety concerns

Stanford researchers used AI models Evo1 and Evo2 to design complete bacteriophage genomes capable of infecting E. coli, producing 16 viable designs—the first time AI designed entire viral genomes. The work could advance treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections, but it raises urgent biosafety and biosecurity questions about creating new life and potential misuse; researchers say they excluded viruses that infect complex organisms, held experiments in secure labs, and stress safeguards, while experts warn of risks including possible autonomous misbehavior by AI systems.

via New York Post|

#antibiotic-resistance #artificial-intelligence #bacteriophages

science1 month ago•66 min saved

In-host gene transfer sparks explosive antibiotic resistance in lung infections

A multicenter study of chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis patients found that extreme tobramycin resistance emerged not by mutation but via in vivo transfer of resistance genes from transient environmental bacteria to already-established pathogens in the lungs. The transferred plasmids carried aac(3)-IIId on a transposon (TnCF1) and conferred MICs ≥1,024 µg/mL, producing roughly 10,000-fold resistance that persisted for years. Plasmids were stable with low fitness costs, aided by toxin–antitoxin systems, and several donor species (including Pseudomonas putida) likely carried the plasmids into patients before transferring them to pathogens, with transfer demonstrated ex vivo via conjugation or transformation. The findings imply that resistance can rapidly arise during therapy through within-host gene transfer, underscoring the need for environmental surveillance and strategies to limit in vivo gene exchange.

via Nature|

#antibiotic-resistance #horizontal-gene-transfer #plasmids

health1 month ago•4 min saved

Global study finds antibiotic resistance rising in children's infections

A global analysis of 106,581 pediatric infection samples across 82 countries shows antibiotic resistance increasing in every region from 2004–2022, with the youngest and critically ill most affected and low-resource settings hit hardest. Bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella exhibit high resistance, with models predicting last-line drug resistance could reach about 82% and 35% by 2035. Children are underrepresented in resistance surveillance, highlighting the need for better diagnostics, child-focused treatments, and global surveillance (AMR in Kids provides forecasts). The piece also notes real cases like 13-year-old Harry Booth, whose immunosuppressed status after a kidney transplant complicates treatment and underscores the stakes.

via The Guardian|

#acinetobacter-baumannii #antibiotic-resistance #children

health1 month ago•12 min saved

Mobile resistance gene drives US rise of deadly hospital infections

A CDC report finds NDM-carrying CRE infections surged 461% in the U.S. from 2019–2023; the NDM gene is mobile on plasmids and can jump between bacteria, fueling hospital outbreaks across multiple species and complicating treatment. Wastewater data show community spread with regional patterns and links to socioeconomic factors; while aztreonam-avibactam offers a new option, there is no endgame, underscoring the need for better testing, surveillance, and stewardship.

via CIDRAP|

#antibiotic-resistance #carbapenem-resistant-enterobacterales #health

health1 month ago•11 min saved

Europe Faces Domestic Spread of Ceftriaxone-Resistant Gonorrhea

Europe is seeing domestic spread of ceftriaxone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae across 12 countries with clusters in Sweden, France, Germany and Britain; six treatment failures have been reported (all in Britain), four cleared after a second ceftriaxone–azithromycin course and two required intravenous ertapenem. Cases now include people with no travel history, signaling local transmission. Detection relies on genetic tests and culture, and rising resistance underscores the need for culture-based confirmation and access to alternative therapies, even as overall risk remains low for most but higher for travelers and high-risk networks.

via StudyFinds|

#antibiotic-resistance #ceftriaxone #ecdc

science1 month ago•5 min saved

Lone Star Phages: Navy Team Discovers 14 Texas-Named Bacteriophages

A NAMRU-SA team identified 14 new bacteriophages that target Enterococcus faecalis, naming them with Texas-themed monikers (one being a new species), in a bid to counter antibiotic-resistant infections and potentially aid dental root canals; phages offer pathogen-specific alternative or adjuncts to antibiotics, but require further study and formal taxonomy review before clinical use.

via KERA News|

#antibiotic-resistance #bacteriophages #enterococcus-faecalis

health1 month ago•5 min saved

Sexual transmission fuels rapid Shigella spread and resistance in the UK

A Cambridge-led study of UK Shigella cases (2004–2020) shows sexually transmitted strains, concentrated among GBMSM, spreading more than twice as fast and becoming antibiotic-resistant much faster than non-sexually transmitted ones. About 70% of sexually transmitted strains resist at least one antibiotic, underscoring the need for targeted surveillance, tailored prevention, and different treatment approaches beyond standard hygiene advice.

via PinkNews|

#antibiotic-resistance #gbmsm #health

science2 months ago•6 min saved

Genome-Mined Megacluster Signals Synergy in Biotin-Targeting Antibiotics

A Nature paper reports a megacluster of four gene clusters in Streptomyces that produce three antibiotics plus a biotin-pathway mimic, which together disrupt biotin synthesis in bacteria and show synergistic killing in lab and animal tests, revealing a new genome-mining strategy to revive natural-product antibiotics, though extensive work remains before clinical use.

via Ars Technica|

#antibiotic-resistance #biotin-biosynthesis #genome-mining

science2 months ago•6 min saved

Soil megacluster yields multi-target antibiotics against biotin biosynthesis

Researchers identified a megacluster of biosynthetic genes in Streptomyces that encodes four antibiotics—stravidins, acidomycin, α-Me-KAPA, and dapamycins—plus the biotin‑targeting protein streptavidin, all aimed at blocking vitamin B7 (biotin) production at different steps, a multi‑pronged approach that could slow resistance and guide new antibiotic development.

via Nature|

#antibiotic-discovery #antibiotic-resistance #biotin-metabolism

health2 months ago•83 min saved

Light-activated nanotech could accelerate wound healing by killing bacteria

Researchers are developing light-activated nanomaterials that convert light into heat or reactive chemicals to kill bacteria in wounds, potentially speeding healing. In mouse and pig studies, these therapies reduced infections by up to ~99% and promoted faster wound closure, including approaches like a lysozyme-containing gel activated by near-infrared light and magnesium-enhanced immune response, as well as gold–graphene oxide nanoparticles that generate toxic reactive oxygen species under blue light. While promising for chronic wounds and device-related infections, the techniques still require safety testing and cost reduction before clinical use.

via Live Science|

#antibiotic-resistance #biofilms #health

science2 months ago•3 min saved

Soil-born antibiotic hits a novel ribosome site to tackle resistant bacteria

Researchers from the U.S., Canada, and Germany identify manikomycin, a naturally produced peptide antibiotic from the soil bacterium Streptomyces rimosus, that binds a previously untargeted site on bacterial ribosomes and kills difficult strains like Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae; while promising due to its novel mode of action, it does not affect many Gram-positive bacteria and metabolizes quickly in the body, meaning it’s not yet a drug and will require optimization before clinical use.

via Gizmodo|

#antibiotic #antibiotic-resistance #manikomycin

technology2 months ago•12 min saved

AI accelerates the hunt for new antibiotics against resistance

AI is speeding antibiotic discovery by predicting targets and mechanisms, narrowing experimental pipelines, and enabling design of new antimicrobials—from small-molecule inhibitors like halicin to antimicrobial peptides developed via de-extinction (APEXGO). The approach relies on diverse, high-quality training data and practical synthesis constraints, as researchers race to outpace antibiotic resistance.

via Nature|

#ai-drug-discovery #antibiotic-resistance #antimicrobial-peptides

science2 months ago•91 min saved

MKM: a natural antibiotic locking the bacterial ribosome at the E-site

Manikomycin (MKM), a newly identified cyclic depsipeptide from Streptomyces rimosus, binds the E-site of the bacterial 50S ribosome to block translocation and halt protein synthesis. It kills multidrug‑resistant Enterobacteriaceae and mycobacteria, with resistance arising from mutations in 23S rRNA near the E-site or loss of ribosomal protein L35; the producer carries ManE, a methyltransferase that methylates Cm2395 to confer self-resistance. Cryo-EM reveals MKM in the primary E-site pocket formed by 23S rRNA and L35; biochemical and ribosome profiling data show context‑dependent translation inhibition. Activity is limited in many bacteria due to uptake, but MKM offers a new scaffold for antibiotic development, supported by in vitro, ex vivo, and pharmacokinetic data.

via Nature|

#antibiotic-resistance #cryo-em #manikomycin