TAU researcher’s novel strategy may sensitize bacteria to antibiotics to selectively kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria
At its annual assembly in Geneva last week, the World Health Organization approved a radical and far-reaching plan to slow the rapid, extensive spread of antibiotic resistance around the world. The plan hopes to curb the rise caused by an unchecked use of antibiotics and lack of new antibiotics on the market.
New Tel Aviv University research published in PNASintroduces a promising new tool: a two-pronged system to combat this dangerous situation. It nukes antibiotic resistance in selected bacteria, and renders other bacteria more sensitive to antibiotics. The research, led by Prof. Udi Qimron of the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at TAU’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine, is based on bacterial viruses called phages, which transfer “edited” DNA into resistant bacteria to kill off resistant strains and make others more sensitive to antibiotics.
According to the researchers, the system, if ultimately applied to pathogens on hospital surfaces or medical personnel’s hands, could turn the tide on untreatable, often lethal bacterial infections. “Since there are only a few pathogens in hospitals that cause most of the antibiotic-resistance infections, we wish to specifically design appropriate sensitization treatments for each one of them,” Prof. Qimron says. “We will have to choose suitable combinations of DNA-delivering phages that would deliver the DNA into pathogens, and the suitable combination of ‘killing’ phages that could select the re-sensitized pathogens.”
Reprogramming the system
“Antibiotic-resistant pathogens constitute an increasing threat because antibiotics are designed to select resistant pathogens over sensitive ones,” Prof. Qimron says. “The injected DNA does two things: It eliminates the genes that cause resistance to antibiotics, and it confers protection against lethal phages.
“We managed to devise a way to restore antibiotic sensitivity to drug-resistant bacteria, and also prevent the transfer of genes that create that resistance among bacteria,” he continues.
Earlier research by Prof. Qimron revealed that bacteria could be sensitized to certain antibiotics — and that specific chemical agents could “choose” those bacteria more susceptible to antibiotics. His strategy harnesses the CRISPR-Cas system — a bacterial DNA-reprogramming system Prof. Qimron pioneered — as a tool to expand on established principles.
Read more:Â Programming DNA to Reverse Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
The Latest on: Programming DNA
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Programming DNA” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Programming DNA
- 'Coaching is in his DNA:' UNF's Scott Schroeder has a knack for spotting talent, winningon April 19, 2024 at 2:03 am
UNF men's golf coach Scott Schroeder has won more ASUN titles and reached more NCAAs than any coach in school history. There's no trick to it.
- 23andMe Jumps as CEO Floats Taking DNA Tester Privateon April 18, 2024 at 7:00 am
DNA testing firm 23andMe Holding Co.’s shares soared after Chief Executive Officer Anne Wojcicki said she’s considering taking the struggling company private, less than three years after it began ...
- Colossal Announces $7.5M in New Investments in Ancient DNA Academic Researchon April 17, 2024 at 3:14 pm
Dr. Beth Shapiro, Colossal Biosciences’ chief science office, will lead the de-extinction company's ancient DNA research and oversee the distribution of funding and development of new partnerships and ...
- California can share your baby's DNA sample without permission, but new bill could force state to publicly reveal who they're giving it toon April 17, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Therein lies the concern. Back in 2018, CBS News California randomly selected six new moms to ask what they knew about the newborn genetic testing program. When asked whether they knew the state was ...
- Community is part of social work program’s DNAon April 17, 2024 at 9:34 am
Part of the glue that holds the office together is Executive Office Specialist Jacqui Pridgeon. Faculty might help students with their academic work, but Pridgeon does everything else, Bressette said.
- Tiny DNA circles are key drivers of cancer formation, study suggestson April 15, 2024 at 11:32 am
Tiny circles of DNA that defy the accepted laws of genetics are key drivers of cancer formation, according to an international study led by researchers at Stanford Medicine.
- Othram solves cold cases with advanced DNA testingon April 15, 2024 at 7:00 am
Using the latest genomic technologies, Othram founders Kristen and David Mittelman brought the biotechnology company to The Woodlands in September 2018 to help solve cold cases that could otherwise re ...
- Tim Spector: How you can beat your genetic programmingon April 15, 2024 at 5:19 am
It’s hard to predict which nonsense diet or miracle cure is going to be in vogue as we head toward summer, but I can tell you that if it’s based on a test of your DNA or a hair or nail sample, you’re ...
- Cancer patients can now be 'matched' to best treatment with DNA and lab-dish experimentson April 14, 2024 at 9:00 am
Identifying the most effective cancer treatment for a given patient from the get-go can help improve outcomes.
- A Random Influx of DNA from a Virus Helped Vertebrates Become So Stunningly Successfulon April 12, 2024 at 4:31 am
Insertion of genetic material from a virus into the genome of a vertebrate ancestor enabled the lightning-quick electrical impulses that give animals with backbones their smarts ...
via Bing News