Researchers say they have discovered a new class of antibiotics that could treat drug-resistant bacteria, the first to reach the market in nearly three decades.
The new molecule, called lariocidin, works by targeting a part of a bacteria’s cell called the ribosome and can disrupt the cell’s functions.
"This is a new molecule with a new mode of action. It’s a big leap forward for us," Gerry Wright, a professor at McMaster University in Canada and one of the corresponding authors of the study, said in a statement.
Researchers discovered it by growing bacteria from soil in a backyard for approximately one year, according to their findings published in the journal Nature.
They found that lariocidin is produced by the Paenibacillus bacteria, which was found in the soil.
The researchers exposed the samples to E. coli, a common gut bacterium with strains that can cause serious disease.
In addition to its action against bacteria, lariocidin also showed no toxicity to human cells.
"Lariocidin has a broad spectrum of action as it is effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including those identified as priorities by the World Health Organisation in the search for new antimicrobials due to their multi-drug resistance profile," Rafael Cantón, head of the microbiology department at the Madrid-based Ramón y Cajal Hospital, said in a statement.
Cantón, who didn’t take part in the study, also highlighted that the discovery of a completely new mechanism to target pathogens represents a "milestone in the fight against resistant bacteria".
More research, including clinical trials, is necessary to confirm the compound’s efficacy.
Antimicrobial resistance: a growing concern for public health
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global public health threats.
"Our old drugs are becoming less and less effective as bacteria become more and more resistant to them," Wright said.
According to the WHO, around 4.95 million deaths globally are associated with AMR.
In Europe and Central Asia, antimicrobial resistance causes 133,000 deaths each year, WHO’s regional office in Europe has said.
It has also been estimated to cost the European Union and Economic Area around €11.7 billion yearly due to productivity loss and healthcare expenditure.
