New Class of Antibiotics

NEW CLASS OF ANTIBIOTICS DISCOVERED:

In a break-through, scientists have discovered a new class of antibiotics to fight deadly bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aurous and other drug-resistant bacteria that threaten public health. The new class, called oxadiazoles, was discovered by University of Notre Dame researchers lead by May land Chang and Shahriar Mobashery in silica (by computer) screening and has shown promise in the treatment of MRSA in mouse models in infection. Researchers who screened 1.2 million compounds found that the oxadiazoles inhibits a penicillin-binding protein, PBP2a, and the biosynthesis of the cell wall that enables MRSA to resist other drugs.

Researchers said, the oxadiazoles are also effective when taken orally. This is an important feature as there is only one marketed antibiotic for MRSA that can be taken orally. MRSA has become a global public-health problem since the 1960s because of its resistance to antibiotics. In the US alone, 278,000 people are hospitalised and 19,000 die each year from infections caused by MRSA, said researchers. Only three drugs currently are effective treatments, and resistance to each of those drugs already exists. The researchers have been seeking a solution to MRSA for years.