Antibiotic-resistant super bacteria form a severe threat to our health system. Researchers from Ghent University (UGent) and KU Leuven presented a new platform that will put the search for alternatives to antibiotics in a higher gear.

An example of a well-known antibiotic-resistant bacterium called Pseudomonas Aeruginosa - Image Credit: Kateryna Kon via Shutterstock

Traditionally, we fight bacteria with antibiotics. An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance, with a biological origin, that is active against bacteria. It is our most prominent weapon in the fight against bacterial infections. Antibiotics aim to either kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria.

Unfortunately, in some cases, these antibiotics no longer work properly due to the fact that the genetic material of the bacteria changes. Another problem is that the search for new molecules is running stiff, and hardly any new antibiotics enter the market nowadays.

A promising alternative to traditional antibiotics are so-called enzyme-based antibiotics, or "enzyme biotics." These are based on "lysines," proteins capable of cutting up cell walls of bacteria. A first naturally occurring lysine is currently being tested in clinical trials by a US-based company.

How antibiotic resistance happens - Image Credit: ducu59us via Shutterstock

To find the ideal lysine for every bacterium, Rob Lavigne (KU Leuven) and Yves Briers (UGent), together with other researchers, developed a platform called VersaTile. It is a platform that enables scientists to quickly and efficiently create, test, and optimize large quantities of different types of lysine. Recently the platform has been presented in an article in the prominent science journal 'Science Advances.'

In their article, the researchers describe how, with their VersaTile platform - as a pilot project - they developed a lysine against the dangerous 'Acinetobacter baumannii' a typically short, almost round, rod-shaped bacterium. It can be an opportunistic pathogen in humans, affecting people with compromised immune systems, and is becoming increasingly relevant as a hospital-derived infection. The bacterium is also known to be responsible for many wound infections during the Iraq war. The developed lysine is capable of killing these multidrug-resistant bacteria in human serum. The results offer prospects for intravenous use in patients with infected wounds.

According to PhD candidate Hans Gerstmans, lead author of the study, the VersaTile platform makes it possible to develop new lysines for other dangerous bacteria-related infections, whether it be urinary tract infections, lung infections, or other diseases. Professor Briers adds that the platform also has a broader potential application since its 'block box method' can also be used for different types of proteins that are of industrial or medical interest.

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