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University Researchers Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance with Engineered Strains
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have developed a groundbreaking library of engineered strains aimed at producing new antibacterial agents to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly focusing on the bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii.
A. baumannii is frequently isolated from various environments, such as soil and water, and is recognized as an opportunistic pathogen. It poses a significant risk in clinical contexts, capable of initiating severe infections in vulnerable populations, including those in hospitals or individuals with weakened immune systems. Infections can manifest in blood, the urinary tract, or lungs, often resulting in pneumonia.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted A. baumannii as one of the most critical pathogens, citing its role in a high incidence of multi-drug resistant infections within healthcare systems. This bacterium has developed remarkable survival strategies, such as the formation of biofilms—clusters of microbial communities that adhere to surfaces—and the utilization of diverse resistance mechanisms to evade antimicrobial treatment. Consequently, it has contributed to the global emergence of strains that are highly resistant to multiple drugs.
The researchers’ findings, detailed in a recent study published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, reveal that the team has successfully engineered mutant strains by incorporating various resistance motifs into A. baumannii. This approach is expected to enhance the understanding of how different compounds affect this dangerous pathogen.
The engineered strains serve as a platform to investigate the pharmacodynamics and effectiveness of anti-A. baumannii medications, presenting a potentially powerful resource in the global fight against the increasing threat of multi-drug and extensively drug-resistant A. baumannii infections.
According to Dr. Vineet Dubey, the lead author and Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Liverpool, “This innovative approach offers a powerful tool to study the pharmacodynamics of novel therapeutics against A. baumannii. Our molecular constructs have demonstrated both stability and virulence in experimental models, ensuring robust and reliable data. The modularity of our system enables the exploration of emerging resistance mechanisms, including the ability to express multiple resistance genes, thereby facilitating the study of complex resistance networks in A. baumannii.”
More information: Vineet Dubey et al, Acinetobacter baumannii transformants expressing oxacillinases and metallo-β-lactamases that confer resistance to meropenem: new tools for anti-Acinetobacter drug development and AMR preparedness, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (2024). DOI: 10.1128/aac.00222-24
Citation: Researchers identify new tools for anti-Acinetobacter drug development and AMR preparedness (2024, September 10) retrieved 11 September 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2024-09-tools-anti-acinetobacter-drug-amr.html
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