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
- Life got in the way of one woman's reunion with her father, but a DNA test gained her a familyon April 23, 2024 at 3:13 am
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, ...
- A CT woman’s remains will orbit the sun forever. Celebrity’s DNA accompanies her.on April 23, 2024 at 2:30 am
Besides the DNA from hair follicles of Washington and Kennedy, there are small discs contain cremated remains of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, his wife, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, Nichelle ...
- Wojo: Sherrone Moore’s challenge is to maintain Michigan’s DNA, and pick a QBon April 22, 2024 at 4:31 pm
After the most dominant three-year stretch in program history, Michigan is starting over. Sort of. Not really. Not completely.
- How a Cloned Ferret Inspired a DNA Bank for Endangered Specieson April 22, 2024 at 5:22 am
The birth of a cloned black-footed ferret named Elizabeth Ann, and her two new sisters, has sparked a new pilot program to preserve the tissues of hundreds of endangered species “just in case” ...
- 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 18, 2024 at 9:36 am
California law says genetic testing companies have to get your permission before they store, use or sell your DNA, but the state itself doesn't have to get your permission and has been storing DNA ...
- Colossal Announces $7.5M in New Investments in Ancient DNA Academic Researchon April 17, 2024 at 3:14 pm
Colossal Biosciences’ academic investments include partnerships with Stockholm University, the University of Potsdam, the University of California Santa Cruz, the University of Alaska, McMaster ...
- 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.
- 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.
via Bing News