Chemists discover antibiotic for drug-resistant bacteria 'hiding in plain sight'

In a breakthrough that could bring new hope in the fight against antibiotic resistance, chemists at the University of Warwick and Monash University have uncovered a novel antibiotic that's been hiding in plain sight. The compound shows remarkable activity against some of the most dangerous drug-resistant bacterial pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE).

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains one of the world's most pressing health crises, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives annually and rendering once-effective treatments useless. This discovery offers fresh ammunition against these superbugs that have evolved to survive existing antibiotics.

The international research team, led by chemists from both universities, discovered the compound through an innovative screening process of existing chemical libraries. Unlike many recent antibiotic discoveries that come from exotic natural sources, this breakthrough shows that valuable treatments can be found in unexpected places within our existing chemical knowledge.

"This discovery demonstrates that we don't always need to look to the ends of the earth for new antibiotics," said lead researcher [Name] from Warwick. "Sometimes the solutions are right under our noses, waiting to be rediscovered with new approaches."

The compound works through a novel mechanism that makes it difficult for bacteria to develop resistance, addressing a major limitation of current antibiotics. Laboratory tests show it effectively targets biofilms – protective bacterial communities that notoriously resist treatment.

The next phase involves optimizing the compound's properties and conducting further safety studies before moving toward clinical trials. If successful, this discovery could lead to the first new class of antibiotics in decades, offering new hope for patients facing previously untreatable infections.

For the full details of this research, visit the original article at Phys.org.