Niels Van der Elst, a researcher from Northern Belgium, claims that the method is relatively inexpensive and can be used in conjunction with existing antibiotics. This is reported by UNN with reference to Radio 1 and Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie.
Details
Antibiotic resistance has fatal consequences. There is a problem that sometimes they are prescribed more often than necessary. Not only to people, but also in animal husbandry. But such use of antibiotics, even when they are not really necessary, contributes to some bacteria becoming more resistant.
Perhaps the solution to this problem will be found thanks to new research by the Swedish Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. The process is led by researcher Niels Van der Elst, who trained as a veterinarian and began his scientific career by studying udder infections in dairy cattle.
Antibiotic resistance kills millions of children every year - study13.04.25, 10:54 • [views_6399]
He soon realized that his findings could also be applied to humans, VRT writes.
We discovered a so-called endolysin. This enzyme comes from a virus and is capable of infecting and killing bacteria. But it is absolutely harmless to humans and animals. We found that if you add the protein of this virus to antibiotic therapy, resistant bacteria become sensitive to it again.
Imagine the enzyme as a kind of molecular scissors that thin the cell wall of bacteria. We found that this enzyme can be combined with an antibiotic that also affects the cell wall of bacteria, such as penicillin. This combination has a very strong effect.
The technique seems relatively simple, and this, according to the authors, is the breakthrough.
By simply adding something new to existing therapy, we can make these antibiotics effective again. Developing new antibiotics requires more resources.
The study is working on pneumococcal infections in the brain.
We tested this method on human brain cells in the laboratory and on mice. Both types died if we did not treat them or if we treated them with antibiotics to which the bacteria were resistant. But when we added the enzyme, we saw that the bacteria were killed.
In our experiment on mice, we were able to demonstrate that there was not even any infection left in the brain. This was an important discovery, he emphasizes.
Another 10 years of improvement?
Several more stages of development are needed before doctors can actually prescribe this technology.
I personally expect that such enzymes will be available within 10 years in combination therapy with antibiotics.
But will this be the solution to the problem of resistant bacteria, isn't that wonderful?
Of course, but there are other research groups working on other methods.
Recall
The Ministry of Health explained why antibiotics are preferred in the treatment of children.