Summarised by Centrist
Scientists have developed a new compound, PS757, that shows promise in combating drug-resistant bacteria. Initially created to prevent urinary tract infections, PS757 was found to be very effective against various Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE).
In recent studies, PS757 has also demonstrated its ability to kill S. pyogenes, a potentially flesh-eating bacteria, in animal models.
Researchers at Umeå University in Sweden and Washington University in St. Louis discovered that PS757 can kill bacteria in biofilms and persister cells, which are typically resistant to conventional antibiotics.
“They work against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive bacteria, including the ones that we were already running out of antibiotics to treat,” said Michael Caparon, a senior author of the study.
While PS757 is still far from being ready for pharmaceutical use, the compound’s unique properties offer hope for developing a new class of antibiotics.
The development of PS757 could have a major impact on the treatment of drug-resistant bacterial infections, providing a new tool in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
