New antibiotic may make bacterial resistance nearly impossible

July 24: A newly discovered antibiotic that disrupts two distinct biological targets will make it 100 million times harder for bacteria to evolve resistance, according to a study.The study from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), in the US, reveals that this antibiotic disrupts two different cellular targets, significantly complicating bacteria’s ability to evolve resistance, a dangerous, unwanted side effect.The study, published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology, focuses on a class of synthetic drugs known as macrolones. These drugs combat bacterial infections by either interfering with protein production or corrupting DNA structure, making it challenging for bacteria to develop resistance to both mechanisms simultaneously.