Compound that kills superbugs discovered

Scientists have discovered a novel compound which visualises and kills antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria that cause infections such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections, a finding that may help combat the rapidly emerging global threat of superbugs.

The team, led by Jim Thomas from the University of Sheffield in the UK, is testing new compounds on antibiotic resistant gram-negative bacteria, including pathogenic E coli.

The research, published in the journal ACS Nano, describes the compound which kills gram-negative E coli, including a multidrug resistant pathogen said to be responsible for millions of antibiotic resistant infections worldwide annually.

Gram-negative bacteria strains can cause infections including pneumonia, urinary tract infections and bloodstream infections.

They are difficult to treat as the cell wall of the bacteria prevents drugs from getting into the microbe.

Antimicrobial resistance is already responsible for thousands of deaths in each year, and ...