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A new class of antibiotics is cause for cautious celebration — but the economics must be fixed

The bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii is a portrait of resilience. The microorganism causes a range of infections, and its ability to survive desiccation means it can persist for weeks on hospital air vents, computer keyboards and human skin. Its metabolic and genetic flexibility have allowed it to become resistant to the few antibiotics that can make it through its two protective cell membranes.

The new compounds block the bacterium’s ability to shuttle key building blocks to where they are needed, and do so by binding to a novel site in the bacterium — there are other compounds that target this pathway, but A. baumannii is resistant to them. One of the molecules, called zosurabalpin,…

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 A macrocyclic peptide kills bacteria by blocking lipid transport

Finding new antibiotics is a matter of increasing public health concern as drug-resistant bacteria spread around the world. But the task is notoriously difficult; on top of the challenge of developing safe, effective drugs, new antibiotics must be used sparingly to prevent resistance, slowing sales.

Articles of Interest

A new type of antibiotic targets a drug-resistant bacterium

Infections caused by drug-resistant strains of the bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii have been hard to treat in the clinic. A new class of antibiotics has been identified with the potential to tackle these microbes.

New Antibiotic Class Discovered That Works against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

The macrocyclic peptide zosurabalpin showed promising antibacterial activity against Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), according to two papers published in the journal Nature.

New antibiotic zosurabalpin shows promise against drug-resistant bacteria – an expert explains how it works

Researchers have identified an entirely new class of antibiotic that can kill bacteria that are resistant to most current drugs. Zosurabalpin is highly effective against the bacterium carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (Crab), which is classified as a “priority 1” pathogen by the World Health Organization due to its growing presence in hospitals.

Scientists hail new antibiotic that can kill drug-resistant bacteria

Zosurabalpin has defeated strains of pneumonia and sepsis in mice, raising hopes for human trials.