All articles tagged with #enterococcus faecalis
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.
A Yale-led study shows that COMT inhibitors, used with levodopa to treat Parkinson’s, disrupt the gut microbiome and promote Enterococcus faecalis, which metabolizes levodopa in the gut and prevents it from reaching the brain. This microbiome-mediated drug interaction helps explain why identical doses can variably affect patients and suggests clinicians should consider gut bacteria when evaluating co-prescribed drugs; the finding could extend to other disease-drug combinations.