Clever chemistry turns antibiotic-resistant bacteria’s own defences against them

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be selectively destroyed by a molecule that uses their our own immunity against them to make them photosensitive, researchers in China have shown. The compound was shown to be more active than vancomycin against some strains of MRSA, killing them almost completely upon exposure to light.

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing threat that could potentially cause up to 10 million deaths per year by 2050 and make many clinical procedures like surgeries too risky. β-lactam antibiotics such as penicillins have been widely used for over 80 years, presently accounting for around 65% of all prescribed antibacterial drugs. The β-lactam ring binds to bacteria, blocking the synthesis of their cell walls. Bacteria have developed resistance to these antibiotics, most commonly by synthesising β-lactamase enzymes, which hydrolyse the ring.