Energy production, virus defenses and toxin loading emerge as vulnerabilities in resistant bacteria
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University have identified new vulnerabilities in antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, including mechanisms for energy production and toxin delivery. These findings offer potential new pathways for developing treatments to combat the growing global health threat of drug-resistant infections.
Why it matters
Antimicrobial resistance is a major public health crisis, and identifying new biological targets is essential for creating the next generation of antibiotics.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source The compound (ND-011458) binds to a cavity in the cytochrome b subunit of the cytochrome bcc oxidase enzyme and inhibits it. Credit: NTU Singapore Antimicrobial resistance is one of the world's top public health threats. Often termed a silent pandemic, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria have caused millions of deaths annually. If left unchecked, the number of deaths attributed to antimicrobial-resistant bacteria is expected to increase to 10 million a year by 2050, according to estimates by the World Health Organization.
NTU scientists are pioneering strategies to stay one step ahead of these bacteria.
One NTU research team developed a compound that inhibits an enzyme crucial for energy generation in a resistant bacterium.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in