New research in mice repurposes a drug used for blood disorders to starve antibiotic-resistant fungus of iron, thus halving the survival rate of the yeast. Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people acquire an infection that is resistant to antibiotics, and 23,000 people die as a result.
The drug resistance crisis is so dire that some researchers have warned that we may soon return "to a pre-antibiotic era in which minor infections can once again become deadly." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have categorized the current antibiotic resistance threats as "urgent," "serious," or "concerning." The CDC considers fluconazole-resistant Candida, which accounts for 3,400 infections and 220 deaths each year, to be a "serious" threat. Why tackling Candida is important: Candida albicans is a fungus that can cause oral thrush and denture-related stomatitis,…
