Old Antibiotics: Today scientists all over the world are facing a huge problem. This problem is antibiotic resistance (AMR). This means that bacteria are gradually strengthening themselves against the drugs with which we could kill them. Its effect has become so dangerous that even minor infections are difficult to cure and can sometimes prove fatal.

Its effect is clearly visible in India. In 2021, about 2.6 lakh people died only because the infection in their body was not stopped by that antibiotic medicine. This means that if the medicines were working, these deaths could have been prevented, but now researchers at IIT Bombay have come up with a new method. Instead of making new antibiotics, he has found a way to make old medicines effective again. In such a situation, let us know how old antibiotics become functional again and what is the method for this.

How do antibiotics not kill bacteria?

Macrolides are a common category of antibiotics, which include medicines like Azithromycin and Erythromycin. These medicines attack the protein making machine of bacteria i.e. ribosome. By inhibiting the ribosome, the bacteria cannot make the necessary proteins and die, but the bacteria are also not left behind. They replace ribosomes using Erm enzymes. Because of this, antibiotics are not able to kill bacteria.

How do old antibiotics become functional again?

The team of IIT Bombay has found a way to inactivate the Erm enzyme. He used aptamers. Aptamers are small, synthetic DNA fragments. These DNA fragments bind specifically to the Erm 42 enzyme. The researchers selected the two most effective aptamers from millions of DNA sequences. To make the aptamers more accurate, redundant parts were removed. This means that it now directly targets the Erm enzyme and stops it from working.

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What is its method?

DNA aptamers alone cannot enter bacteria. These break easily and are unable to cross the bacterial membrane. The team has found the solution through Liposomes. These are small, round, bubbles made of fat. These mix easily with the membrane of bacteria. DNA aptamers were packed in these liposomes so that they could safely enter the bacteria.

How effective is the new research?

The researchers tested this technique on Staphylococcus aureus, a tricky bacteria. When aptamers were delivered with liposomes, more than 90 percent of the bacteria accepted them. Giving aptamers and antibiotics in combination increased bacterial death, whereas antibiotics alone had little effect. In this situation, the Erm enzyme became inactive and the drug could work on the ribosome again.

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Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

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