Dozens of new natural antibiotics found in the human body

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are poised to become a major health threat in the coming decades, but now it turns out that new antibiotics might have been inside us all along. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania used a “search” algorithm to fi… Continue reading Dozens of new natural antibiotics found in the human body

Sharpest ever images of live bacteria unravel the secrets of superbugs

By using a nanoscale needle tip to probe the intricate exterior structures of Escherichia coli, scientists have produced the sharpest images ever of living bacteria. With this new perspective of its patchy protective layer, the researchers hope to furt… Continue reading Sharpest ever images of live bacteria unravel the secrets of superbugs

“Living medicine” recruits bacteria to fight antibiotic-resistant superbugs

Scientists have demonstrated a new way to fight antibiotic-resistant superbugs by pitting bacteria against each other. The team engineered a common bacteria to safely colonize the surface of medical implants, where it produced enzymes that dissolve sup… Continue reading “Living medicine” recruits bacteria to fight antibiotic-resistant superbugs

Inhalable vaccine fights antibiotic-resistant pneumonia in mice

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a nasty, opportunistic bacteria that can cause pneumonia. It’s a tough one to fight, but now researchers at Tulane University have developed an inhalable vaccine that, in mouse tests, can invoke a strong immune response against… Continue reading Inhalable vaccine fights antibiotic-resistant pneumonia in mice

New mechanism controls superbugs by sparing the death sentence

Antibiotics are reaching the limits of their usefulness, as they drive bacteria to evolve into new drug-resistant forms. But a new study has uncovered a mechanism that could make the bugs non-infectious without killing them, reducing the evolutionary p… Continue reading New mechanism controls superbugs by sparing the death sentence

Experimental vaccine forces bacteria down an evolutionary dead end

Pathogens like bacteria and viruses are extremely good at evolving in response to drugs, which can render vaccines ineffective. But now, researchers at ETH Zurich have found a way to weaponize that ability against them, forcing the bugs down harmless e… Continue reading Experimental vaccine forces bacteria down an evolutionary dead end

New drug target makes superbugs choke on their own toxic molecules

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or “superbugs,” pose one of the most dangerous looming threats to public health. Now, researchers at the University of Georgia have found a new potential weakness in some of the worst strains, which could make them choke … Continue reading New drug target makes superbugs choke on their own toxic molecules

Molecular tweezers pick apart the defenses of drug-resistant bacteria

The rise of drug-resistant bacteria, which are superbugs that are evolving the ability to evade the defenses offered by our best medicines, is a growing threat to human health. Combating these dangers is going to take some inventive solutions, and rese… Continue reading Molecular tweezers pick apart the defenses of drug-resistant bacteria

Last-resort antibiotic found to pop superbugs like balloons

By turning modern scientific tools on an antibiotic discovered 70 years ago, researchers have unearthed a previously unknown mechanism it uses to pierce and pop superbugs like balloons. Promisingly, the scientists have also demonstrated how this approa… Continue reading Last-resort antibiotic found to pop superbugs like balloons

Black phosphorus coating kills superbugs then self-destructs

Bacteria are becoming more and more dangerous, as they evolve resistance to our best drugs. New weapons against these so-called “superbugs” are desperately needed. Now, researchers at RMIT have developed a coating that quickly kills bacteria and fungi,… Continue reading Black phosphorus coating kills superbugs then self-destructs