• UGI USER
  • Jan 06, 2024
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NEW ANTIBIOTIC COULD TARGET DRUG-RESISTANT BACTERIUM

Why in the News?

  • Researchers at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, have discovered a new class of antibiotics.
Source: CNN
  • Target Bacterium: Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB – Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii)
  • Effective Antibiotic: Zosurabalpin

Mode of Action:

  • Zosurabalpin works against CRAB with a novel mechanism.
  • It inhibits the transport of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by targeting a complex of proteins.
  • This disruption of LPS transport leads to the destruction of the outer-membrane structure of Gram-negative bacteria, killing A. baumannii.

Promising Results:

  • Zosurabalpin demonstrated effectiveness against CRAB-induced pneumonia and sepsis in mouse models.
  • Researchers optimized and fine-tuned Zosurabalpin for improved efficacy and tolerability.
  • The compound shows promise as a potential drug candidate for treating drug-resistant bacterial infections.
  • Zosurabalpin was effective against more than 100 clinical samples of CRAB.
  • It considerably reduced bacterial levels in mice with CRAB-induced pneumonia, preventing sepsis and abnormal immune responses.