Some people call it a “crisis”silent pandemic“” is sweeping the world. It has been steadily and stealthily multiplying without attracting as much attention as other virus outbreaks that surged around the same time. The culprit behind this is pandemic: Multidrug-resistant bacteria also known as superbugs.
Superbugs exhibit widespread antibiotic resistance, meaning that the drugs that traditionally treat people's infections no longer work. The problem is further complicated by the fact that bacteria acquire this resistance over time as they evolve and can easily share their resistance with other microorganisms.
Scientists are working on Develop alternatives to antibioticsas well as adopting strategies. Make existing drugs work better. Live Science has been documenting their efforts and the emergence and spread of new superbugs over the past year. Here are the 10 most important and interesting superbug articles of 2024.
Related: The 10 deadliest superbugs scientists worry about
kill the crab
a Newly discovered antibiotic could kill people Carbapenem resistance Acinetobacter baumanniior CRAB, a superbug that is resistant to most existing drugs. This drug is a new class of antibiotics that kills bacteria by manipulating the machinery necessary for bacteria to build their outer membranes. This mechanism is highly selective, so the drug only acts in the following areas: A. Baumani. This narrow targeting makes it less likely that the drug will put pressure on other bacterial species to develop resistance, the scientists reported.
'Hypertoxic' superbugs are rampant
new strains A superbug called supertoxic Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) has been detected in 16 countries, including the United States. Classic microorganisms were already a major problem, especially among immunocompromised people in medical settings. But hvKp is now more prevalent and can cause serious, rapidly progressing infections, even in people with strong immune systems.
Bugs that live inside your body
One study found that there are two superbugs of concern: various antibiotic-resistant strains. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli — May remain in the human body Maximum of 5 years and 9 years respectively. This puts carriers of these bacteria at risk for repeated infections and for exposing others to the same organisms. On the other hand, superbugs also have the opportunity to share antibiotic resistance genes with other bacteria.
C. Differential evolution
super bug clostridioides difficile (used to be called that clostridium difficile) – or C. difference, In short, resistance to one of the main drugs used for treatment can rapidly evolve. However, this Evolution comes at a costdiscovered by scientists. When microorganisms become resistant, their growth efficiency appears to decrease. understand the nuances temperature difference Adapting to different antibiotics could help scientists develop new treatments that bugs are less likely to resist.
Is kryptonite a superbug?
Is there a way to turn superbugs back into average antibiotic-resistant microbes? Scientists say Exploring strategies to achieve thisevolutionary biologist Tiffany Taylor explained. For example, some researchers hope to use phages (viruses that attack bacteria) to deliver genes to superbugs to reverse antibiotic resistance. Other labs are discovering strategies to stop bacteria from forming hard-to-treat 'biofilms' or producing specific proteins. These efforts aim to keep current antibiotics effective for as long as possible.
“Phage Whisperer”
As the problem of antibiotic resistance continues to grow, some scientists are seeking alternative treatments for bacterial infections. One of these treatments, called phage therapy, actually existed before the discovery of antibiotics, but fell by the wayside with the rise of essential medicines. In an excerpt from her latest book, Science journalist Lina Zeldovich focuses on early pioneers Phage therapy uses viruses to fight bacteria.
Related: Superbugs are on the rise. How can we prevent antibiotics from becoming obsolete?
How quickly does resistance appear?
how fast can you do it Certain bacteria evolve resistance to antibiotics• In particular, the rate of evolution varies between bacterial species, as do other factors that shape the internal workings of bacteria. But in general, bacteria can acquire the mutations needed to develop resistance immediately or within a few days. In an infected person, once a cell carries a resistance gene, it can share that gene with neighboring cells, allowing the entire population of bacterial cells to acquire resistance very efficiently.
deep sea antibiotics
next generation Antibiotics may be lurking in the deep seaScientists reported. Researchers have discovered that an Arctic microorganism called actinomycetes produces a unique antibiotic. These compounds showed promise in lab dish experiments with 'enteropathogenicity' Escherichia colicausing intestinal infections. However, it will be some time before we know whether these compounds are clinically useful.
Unraveling “hetero resistance”
Some scientists A unique form of antibiotic resistance called “heteroresistance”“Heterogeneously resistant microorganisms may initially be vulnerable to antibiotics, but once exposed to a certain amount, their resistance suddenly turns ‘on’. These bacteria can interfere with patient treatment and require changes in antibiotics or prolonged hospitalization. There is still no good way to test for bacteria in advance. Microbiologist Karin Hjort told Live Science:.
New fungal infection in China
scientists of China reported the identity of A new fungal infection never before seen in humans. Bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics are a growing threat, as are fungi that are resistant to antifungal drugs. In this case, the fungus — Rhodospolioborus fluvialis — showed resistance to several first-line antifungal drugs when grown in the laboratory at temperatures similar to the human body. Research results show that as climate change progresses, R. fluvialis And similar yeasts may evolve to acquire more resistance.
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