WHO has recently published its first ever priority pathogen list to boost the current research and development of new antibiotics for effective management of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The article summarizes a recent research study that aims to eradicate antibiotic-resistant infections by combining two different antibiotics that each block a different kind of drug-destroying enzyme secreted by bacteria. The main challenge in treating antibiotic-resistant infections lies in understanding the way bacteria inactivate antibiotics. In the case of penicillin resistance, the enzymes- beta-lactamases are the main reason rendering them useless.
Particularly, a group of metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) can destroy even the newest penicillins. Bacteria often make MBLs alongside other enzymes, including other beta-lactamases that allow them to destroy the entire penicillin arsenal. According to…
