North Carolina State University chemists have created a compound that makes existing antibiotics 16 times more effective against antibiotic-resistant "superbugs."
Previously, an NC State chemist found a compound derived from a class of molecules known as 2-aminoimidazoles "recharged" existing antibiotics, making them effective against Gram-positive, antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA. Researchers set to work on a variety of the compound that might prove similarly effective against their Gram-negative brethren.
In a paper published in ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, the researchers describe a compound that, when used in conjunction with the antibiotic imipenem, increased the antibiotic's effectiveness against the antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae 16-fold. The researchers believe that these early results are very promising for future treatments.
Previously, an NC State chemist found a compound derived from a class of molecules known as 2-aminoimidazoles "recharged" existing antibiotics, making them effective against Gram-positive, antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA. Researchers set to work on a variety of the compound that might prove similarly effective against their Gram-negative brethren.
In a paper published in ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, the researchers describe a compound that, when used in conjunction with the antibiotic imipenem, increased the antibiotic's effectiveness against the antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae 16-fold. The researchers believe that these early results are very promising for future treatments.
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