Here’s a new wrinkle. Our antibiotics are compounds that interfere with bacterial cell wall production, membrane integrity, protein biosynthesis, and DNA synthesis. But, given our overuse (and incomplete drug regimens), the microbes we hope to kill have already developed resistance to the antibiotics in our arsenal.
Continue reading Let’s get MRSA!
Researchers at Boston University have reported (Nature) a new adjuvancy effect – the use of sugars to enhance the behavior of (aminoglycoside) antibiotics. Dr James Collins, along with co-researchers Drs. Allison and Brynildsen, all also affiliated with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, as well, went about trying to determine how to kill persistent microbes survive in biofilms. Thinking the bacterial cells were dormant, they considered adding various sugars to the antibiotic mixes. It was hoped the presence of the sugars would “activate” the dormant cells, and, as they were now active, they would be killed off by the antibiotics.
Continue reading Sugar and antibiotics- not so nice…