Do cows hold the answer to controlling some superbug infections? In a discovery that could have far-reaching implications for medicine, scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, have identified an enzyme from the gut of cows that can help disable one of the world’s most feared hospital superbugs.
The research offers a fresh approach to tackling antibiotic-resistant infections at a time when many antibiotics are steadily losing their effectiveness.
The research offers a fresh approach to tackling antibiotic-resistant infections at a time when many antibiotics are steadily losing their effectiveness. The research is still at the basic science stage and is years away from becoming a therapy. But scientists say it opens up a promising new line of attack against dangerous, drug-resistant bacteria. Against this backdrop, the IISc team’s discovery stands out. Instead of trying to kill the bacteria directly, the researchers targeted one of its greatest strengths, its protective biofilm. Special biofilms are formed by some bacteria and are unique to some types or communities of bacteria that cover themselves with a sticky protective layer made up of sugars, proteins, fats and DNA. This slimy shield acts like armour, preventing antibiotics and immune cells from reaching the bacteria hidden inside. These sugar-based molecules provide strength and structural stability to the biofilm. Scientists are cautious about overstating the findings. CRhAB is not a drug and is not available to patients. Extensive research, safety studies and clinical trials lie ahead before it could be considered for human use. For now, this is an important scientific discovery, not a ready-made cure. Still, at a time when the pipeline for new antibiotics has struggled to keep pace with rising drug resistance, even incremental advances matter. By targeting a superbug’s defences rather than the superbug itself, the IISc study points to a potentially smarter way to make existing antibiotics work again, reason enough to keep watching this space closely.
“Polysaccharides, a type of complex sugars, are one of the major components of bacterial biofilms, constituting between 45 per cent and 95 per cent,” explains Debasis Das, Associate Professor at IISc and one of the lead researchers.
