Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Octapeptin: 'Forgotten' antibiotic offers hope against worst superbugs
phys.org ^ | 01/25/2018 | University of Queensland

Posted on 01/25/2018 2:27:26 PM PST by Red Badger

Staphylococcus aureus - Antibiotics Test plate. Credit: CDC

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

An antibiotic overlooked since its discovery 40 years ago could help develop new drugs against life-threatening infections caused by some of the world's most dangerous superbugs.

University of Queensland Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) researchers synthesised the antibiotic, and increased its effectiveness against extensively drug-resistant bacteria, then collaborated with Monash University to evaluate the drug using animal models of infection.

Professor Matt Cooper, Director of IMB's Centre for Superbug Solutions, said the study was prompted by the urgent need for new drugs to counter widespread resistance to last-resort treatments.

"Octapeptins were discovered in the late 1970s but were not selected for development at the time, as there was an abundance of new antibiotics with thousands of people working in antibiotic research and development," Professor Cooper said.

"Given the very few researchers left in this field now, and the sparse pipeline for new antibiotics, we've used modern drug discovery procedures to re-evaluate its effectiveness against superbugs."

Professor Cooper said there were no new classes of antibiotics available for Gram-negative bacteria, with increasing incidence of extensive drug resistance around the world.

"Gram-negative bacteria are harder to kill as disease organisms, because they have an extra membrane to penetrate that is often hidden by a capsule or slime layer which acts to camouflage them from drugs and our immune system," he said.

"The emergence of resistance to meropenem, and now colistin, the antibiotic of last resort, means multi-drug and extensively drug-resistant bacteria are now a reality confronting clinicians.

"Octapeptin showed superior antimicrobial activity to colistin against extensively resistant Gram-negative bacteria in early pre-clinical testing.

"In addition, octapeptin was shown to be potentially less toxic to the kidneys than colistin."

Professor Cooper said the study laid the foundation for the development of a new generation of antibiotics to treat life-threatening infections.

The study is published in Cell Chemical Biology.

Explore further: Supercharged antibiotics could turn tide against superbugs

More information: Cell Chemical Biology (2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2018.01.005

Journal reference: Cell Chemical Biology Provided by: University of Queensland

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2018-01-octapeptin-forgotten-antibiotic-worst-superbugs.html#jCp


TOPICS: Education; Health/Medicine; History; Science
KEYWORDS: antibiotic; octapeptin; superbug
Maybe it will be good against the 'Flesh Eating Bacteria' now getting so prevalent......................
1 posted on 01/25/2018 2:27:26 PM PST by Red Badger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Good thing they overlooked this one back then-the 70’s were when people were demanding-and getting-antibiotics for every damned sneeze, while responsible scientists were predicting this would cause just exactly what is happening now-attack of the superbugs...


2 posted on 01/25/2018 2:39:01 PM PST by Texan5 (`"You've got to saddle up your boys, you've got to draw a hard line"...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Bookmark


3 posted on 01/25/2018 2:39:30 PM PST by Fiddlstix (Warning! This Is A Subliminal Tagline! Read it at your own risk!(Presented by TagLines R US))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

later


4 posted on 01/25/2018 3:16:46 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (Remember: All Cultures Are Equal!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

This is mainstream allopathic medic medicine bullshit

What they won’t tell you which I will if you can make your own super Duper 10 million-year-old antibiotic for free yes free

And what is that pray tell ?

collloidal silver

It kills 650 known pathogens all single celled bacteria and viruses known to the modern world

Don’t take my word for it just give her colloidal silver and know that you can make it for free with 3 9v batteries and distilled water in your own home every day as I do and never ever ever get sick again

No need for vaccines Tamiflu shots doctors nothing

Please play some moron try to argue with me about this and I will completely destroy you

I am tired of the mainstream medical establishment warning people’s lives left and right


5 posted on 01/25/2018 3:33:48 PM PST by Truthoverpower (The guvmint you get is the Trump winning express !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Truthoverpower

Proofread much?


6 posted on 01/25/2018 3:51:43 PM PST by doc11355
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Truthoverpower

> “collloidal silver”

Stan Jones, the human Smurf.


7 posted on 01/25/2018 6:40:26 PM PST by jim_trent
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Truthoverpower
Don’t take my word for it just give her colloidal silver and know that you can make it for free with 3 9v batteries and distilled water in your own home every day as I do and never ever ever get sick again

Got instructions?....................

8 posted on 01/26/2018 6:04:39 AM PST by Red Badger (Wanna surprise? Google your own name. Wanna have fun? Google your friends names......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger; Truthoverpower
Got instructions?....................

I would be curious too.

9 posted on 01/26/2018 6:08:07 AM PST by The Mayor (Honesty means never having to look over your shoulder.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: The Mayor

I’m guessing here, but I’m betting it uses a silver coin as an anode, passing an electric current thru the water dissolving and depositing the silver....................


10 posted on 01/26/2018 6:11:43 AM PST by Red Badger (Wanna surprise? Google your own name. Wanna have fun? Google your friends names......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

For later.

L


11 posted on 01/26/2018 6:14:01 AM PST by Lurker (President Trump isn't our last chance. President Trump is THEIR last chance.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Truthoverpower

“collloidal silver”

It’s a topical antiseptic. You may as well inject yourself with hand sanitizer.


12 posted on 01/26/2018 6:14:02 AM PST by AppyPappy (Don't mistake your dorm political discussions with the desires of the nation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson