New antibiotic discovery is “game-changer”

U.S. scientists have used a novel method for growing bacteria that has yielded 25 new antibiotics, with one deemed “very promising”. Resistance to antibiotics is spreading faster than the introduction of new drugs to fight infections, leading to a growing public health crisis
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iCHIP BACTERIA INCUBATOR

Cultures grown in soil as most soil-based bacteria cannot be grown in laboratory

Central plate: Houses growing micro-organisms held in individual pods

Side panel

73mm

Bacteria in pods

Side panel: Semi-permeable membranes separate central plate from soil
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Burial: iChip buried in soil, allowing unique chemistry of earth to permeate each pod

Result: Chemicals produced by microbes tested. 25 new antibiotics discovered – including Teixobactin

PERFORMANCE OF TEIXOBACTIN  (compared to similar antibiotic, Vancomycin)

Microbes becoming increasingly resistant

Hours

0

4

8

12

16

20

24

Bacteria cell colonies per millilitre

3

4

5

6

7

8

Teixobactin

Vancomycin
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CENTURY OF ANTIBIOTIC DISCOVERIES (selected)

1920

Penicillin

1930

Cephalosporin

1940

1950

1960

Carbapenem

1970

1980

Fluoroquinolones

No discoveries

1990

2000

2010

Teixobactin

2020
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Sources: Nature, WHO, wire agencies

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