A modified spider peptide shows greater antibacterial activity

Scientists have found a way to boost the antibacterial activity of an antimicrobial peptide originating from a spider, according to a recent publication in the journal ACS Chemical Biology. With increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance a global concern, scientists are attempting to find alternatives to the traditional antibiotic drugs which we have relied on for … Read more

New study highlights the prevalence of resistance genes in Kenya

The bacterial species Klebsiella may contribute to a dangerously high level of antibiotic resistance in Kenya, a recent study suggests. Published in the journal PLOS ONE, the study is a collaborative effort between institutions including the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). In many developing nations, the occurrence of … Read more

A major source of antibiotics may also contribute to antibiotic resistance, new research suggests

Could pathogens obtain antibiotic resistance genes from the same organisms that we use to produce our antibiotics? A new study suggests that this could indeed be the case, as resistance genes bearing striking similarity to one another are found in two key groups of microorganisms. In addition, the study resulted in the proposal of a … Read more

WHO’s Essential Medicine List updated, with new guidelines on how antibiotics should used

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has updated their Essential Medicines List (EML), adding 10 new antibiotics which should be used in adults, and 12 for children. In addition, they’ve also decided to try a new approach to combat antibiotic resistant bacteria by dividing antibiotics into three different categories; access, watch and reserve. It’s hoped that … Read more

New test could rapidly identify colistin-resistant bacteria

Researchers have found a method to identify bacteria showing one of the most dangerous forms of antibiotic resistance, in a test that’s both quick and cheap to run. Dr Laurent Dortet, an Associate Professor at South Paris University and his colleagues at Imperial College London, Dr Gerald Larrouy-Maumus and Professor Alain Filloux, presented their work … Read more

WHO produces a list of the 12 most dangerous bacteria

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published a list of the 12 bacterial families against which new antibiotics are desperately needed. Unveiling the list on the 27th February 2017, WHO hopes that this list will spur the research and development of new antibiotics at a time when the drugs we’ve come to rely on to … Read more

Carbon dots – a novel antibacterial that could stop MRSA in its tracks

New research has shown that a nanomaterial composed of carbon ‘dots’ could be effectively used in the fight against MRSA. The work, which was carried out by scientists at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and Islamic Azad University, revealed that carbon dots, or c-dots, are capable of killing both wild-type Staphylococcus aureus and their methicillin-resistant … Read more