New antibiotic developed from antimalarial drug at Washington University

A research team at Washington University in St. Louis has developed a new antibiotic by modifying an existing antimalarial drug. This breakthrough took more than 20 years of work and could help combat antibiotic resistance, a major challenge in medicine. The lead researcher, Timothy Wencewicz, emphasized the importance of finding new antibiotics. Many current drugs, like Bactrim, are losing effectiveness due to the bacteria developing resistance. The new antibiotic, derived from the drug cycloguanil, could prove more resilient against bacteria. Cycloguanil was previously used to fight malaria but wasn't effective against bacterial infections because it couldn't penetrate bacterial membranes. The research team found a way to attach chemical keys to it, allowing it to enter and attack bacteria. The new antibiotic works in two ways to block bacterial enzymes necessary for producing folate, a nutrient they need. This dual action makes it harder for bacteria to develop resistance. The new compounds were effective against common bacteria, including E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and showed potential against harder-to-treat bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The work involved collaboration between many researchers, including John Georgiades, who focused on understanding how the new compounds work at a molecular level. His findings were crucial in demonstrating the antibiotic’s effectiveness against particularly tough bacteria, such as Mycobacterium abscessus. Overall, this project marks a significant achievement in the search for new antibiotics, with hopes that it will lead to further developments in the field. The long partnership between Wencewicz and his colleagues illustrates the importance of teamwork in scientific research.