Can antibiotics work again?, Pg17

Key Highlights:

• IIT Bombay researchers have discovered a method to restore the effectiveness of older macrolide antibiotics like azithromycin and erythromycin.
• The approach uses DNA aptamers to block Erm enzymes, which bacteria use to resist these antibiotics.
• Liposomes, or fat bubbles, are used to deliver the aptamers into bacterial cells, overcoming degradation and membrane crossing issues.
• Tests on antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus showed over 90% uptake of aptamers via liposomes, significantly increasing bacterial cell death when combined with antibiotics.

Detailed Insights:

• The rising antimicrobial resistance led to an estimated 2.6 lakh deaths in India in 2021, highlighting the urgent need for solutions.
• Macrolide antibiotics target bacterial ribosomes, but bacteria develop resistance by using Erm enzymes to modify the ribosome.
• The IIT-B team re-engineered DNA aptamers to specifically bind with the Erm42 enzyme, preventing it from modifying the ribosome.
• Liposomes are used to protect and deliver the aptamers into bacterial cells, enhancing stability and promoting membrane fusion.
• This method offers a way to extend the lifespan of existing antibiotics, reducing the need for the lengthy and costly development of new drugs.
• Between 2017 and 2022, only a dozen new antibiotics were introduced, many being derivatives of existing drugs, making them susceptible to resistance.
• This research marks a shift towards preserving and enhancing the effectiveness of existing drugs to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Antibiotic Resistance: The ability of bacteria to withstand the effects of an antibiotic.
• Ribosome: A complex molecular machine found within all living cells that produces proteins.
• Enzymes: Proteins that act as biological catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions in cells.
• Aptamers: Short strands of DNA or RNA that can bind to specific target molecules.
• Liposomes: Spherical vesicles made of a lipid bilayer used to deliver drugs or genetic material into cells.

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