Since the 1950s, all antibiotics have been based around a strain of bacteria called erythromycin. But new research published in Nature suggests a potential alternative to using erythromycin, which could lead to new tools with which to combat the rising threat of antibiotic resistance.
In the decades since its discovery, researchers have worked to find ways to ever so slightly alter erythromycin, to differentiate the antibiotics being produced and discourage bacteria from becoming accustomed, and therefore resistant, to them, Andrew Myers, PhD, lead author of the paper, told Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News.
The method described in his new paper, however, would use combinations or substances derived from combinations of eight man-made molecules that would act similarly to antibiotics, but would require much less work to differentiate, offering more options for safe drugs that wouldn't inspire resistance.
The paper outlines 350 compounds, two of which in initial tests proved effective against bacteria known to be resistant to last resort antibiotics, Dr. Myers told GenEn.