Professor U.S. discovers new non-antibiotic drugs can treat streptococcal infections

According to a report from the Daily Science Network, Mehner H. Sohham, associate professor of medical science at the Case Western Reserve University in the United States, has discovered a non-antibiotic drug that can treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and purulent Streptococcus infection. Unlike simple killing of bacteria, this drug can prevent bacteria from secreting toxins, thereby rendering them harmless. The results were announced last week at the Interdisciplinary Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapists organized by the American Microbiology Society.

MRSA is one of the most important pathogens in nosocomial infections. It causes millions of infections each year in the United States. There are 20,000 to 40,000 deaths associated with this and the medical expenses incurred are as high as US$8 billion. As the resistance of this bacterium is becoming more and more obvious, similar infections have become more and more intractable, so it is urgent to find a new alternative therapy.

Sorham said that Staphylococcus aureus is omnipresent, but in general it does not cause infections, and infections of the human body are mainly caused by toxins occasionally secreted by them. The newly discovered potential drug prevents bacteria from producing toxins and renders them harmless. Unlike antibiotics, new drugs do not kill bacteria, so bacteria do not develop resistance.

In the study of the bacteria, Solam discovered a protein called AgrA. The protein is responsible for helping the bacteria release the key molecules of the toxin, and when it is activated it will trigger the production of toxins. Therefore, as long as drugs that can prevent AgrA activation are developed, bacterial infections can be prevented. To do this, researchers first screened 100 compounds with high scores from a database of thousands of drugs; then tested these compounds in the laboratory to determine whether they could inhibit the production of toxins and red blood cells. The cracks; finally selected the most effective as a drug. Beginning this fall, Soham and his colleagues will begin animal experiments with this drug.

Somham said: “It is entirely possible to not kill bacteria to stop the infection. This drug can not only be used to treat or prevent bacterial infections, but it can also be used together with antibiotics to enhance the efficacy.” (Wang Xiaolong)