A beacon of hope in the race against bacterial resistance
Scientists from the University of Bonn, the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Utrecht University, Northeastern University in Boston, and NovoBiotic Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge have jointly identified a new antibiotic called clovibactin and elucidated its mechanism of action. Clovibactin, which originates from a soil bacterium in North Carolina, attacks the cell wall of bacteria, including numerous resistant "hospital germs.".
Professor Dr. Tanja Schneider from the University of Bonn emphasized the urgent need for new antibiotics in light of growing resistance. Clovibactin, unlike other common antibiotics, binds with high intensity to essential components of the bacterial cell and destroys its outer membrane. It encloses the target structure "like a cage" and thus effectively prevents the development of resistance in bacteria.
The scientists are confident that bacteria will not quickly develop resistance to clovibactin. The mechanism of clovibactin is designed in such a way that it not only attacks cell wall components but also triggers other destructive mechanisms within the bacteria.
This research demonstrates the great potential of natural bacteria as a source of new antibiotics. While the team is optimistic, Professor Schneider emphasizes that it will still be some time before the drug is available to the general public.
Source: Medicine.NRW; University of Bonn
