Collaborate Disseminate
For bacteria, the first line of defense is the cell wall, which keeps toxins such as antibiotics out. Now, researchers have discovered a key mechanism that bacteria use to build their cell walls, which could present a new target in the ongoing quest to… Continue reading Potentially exploitable weakness found in bacteria’s outer armor
Viruses may be hogging all the headlines at the moment, but it’s important to remember that bacteria are also a looming threat to public health, as they continue to develop resistance to antibiotics. Now a new study has identified a peptide that can ma… Continue reading Peptide weakens superbugs to make old antibiotics effective again
Bacteria have a frustrating ability to return after an infection is cleared out. That’s largely thanks to small “persister” populations that are able to hide from the drugs, seeding a new colony in the aftermath. Now, scientists at the University of Su… Continue reading “Forgetful” mutations may help bacteria evade antibiotics
The treatment of infections can be challenging, as it takes some time to determine if harmful bacteria are even present, and to then figure out which antibiotic would work best. A simple new test, however, is said to answer both questions on the spot.C… Continue reading Infection test kit detects bacteria and advises on antibiotics
Bacteria are evolving resistance to antibiotics much faster than new drugs can be developed, potentially leading us to a dangerous future where infections are more likely to be deadly. Now, an artificial intelligence model has identified a powerful new… Continue reading AI system discovers powerful new antibiotic to tackle superbugs
Antibiotics are one of the most important medical marvels of the modern age, letting us easily treat infections that would have once been lethal. The problem is they aren’t picky, blasting good and bad bacteria alike and messing up the delica… Continue reading Selective antibiotics target specific bacteria to spare the microbiome
Evolution has obviously helped humans get to where we are today – but now it’s working against us. Bacteria are rapidly developing resistance to our best drugs, hurtling us towards a future where antibiotics simply don’t work anymore. Now a t… Continue reading Bacteria self-defense mechanisms uncovered, opening new drug targets
The over-prescription of antibiotics is a major problem in the world today, leading to the dramatic rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. New research led by scientists from the Francis Crick Institute in London is suggesting not only are an… Continue reading How antibiotics can make flu infections worse by wiping out important gut bacteria
Humans are currently locked in an arms race against pathogenic bacteria – and we’re losing. After we developed antibiotics, starting with penicillin in the early 20th century, bacteria have evolved resistance to each new drug we created, thre… Continue reading Genetic study reveals easily-exploitable "chinks in the armor" of MRSA superbugs
A new study has revealed the role that regular bugs play in spreading superbugs. A team from Aston University examined almost 20,000 insects collected from National Health Service (NHS) hospitals across the United Kingdom, and studied the kin… Continue reading Insects found to be flying superbugs around hospitals