Breakthrough may allow scientists to overcome antibiotic resistance

WARWICK , UNITED KINGDOM Scientists have discovered how the pneumonia-causing Streptococcus pneumoniae has become resistant, and have high hopes for their ability to redesign antibiotics to combat pneumonia and other resistant bacteria.

In a study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, a team of UK scientists at the University of Warwick discovered a protein called MurM that allows buildup of a protective cell wall in the bacteria. Penicillin was once able to disrupt the bacteria’s ability to build the cell wall.

Therefore, the Warwick team reasoned, the ability of a disease to build up an immunity to antibiotics should be compromised by disrupting the chemistry of MurM.

Researcher Adrian Lloyd said it was possible that new drugs could be developed in two to three years. “Because we now know in detail what this protein needs to be able to do its job and promote bacterial resistance we should be able to develop drugs to stop it from doing so,” he told the BBC.