Antibiotic-resistance reversed by scientists
Researchers at the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University have changed the genetic makeup of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to render them once again vulnerable to antibiotics. Their research was published in this month's Applied and Environment Microbiology, which is a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
Initial research tested an innocuous but antibiotic-resistant version of the E. coli bacteria, which became vulnerable to both streptomycin and nalidixic acid after bacteriophages were used to alter the genetic makeup. The researchers now intend to expand the research to experiments on pathogenic (disease causing) strains of E. coli and hope to develop a commercially viable spray for convenience of delivery. The experiments will be performed on lab mice and, if successful, may be extended to a trial program at local hospitals.
"You can kill the bacteria by cleaning with bleach, but you can't kill them 100 percent, and you can't control the secretion of resistant bacteria," said microbiologist Dr Udi Qimron, who worked on the project with fellow researchers Shahar Molshanski-Mor, Nir Friedman and Ritem Edgar. "Using a substance that moves the bacteria toward susceptibility to antibiotics will prevent resistant bacteria from multiplying."
Although the primary focus of the researchers was combatting difficult to eradicate hospital-acquired infections such as Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella and Staphylococcus aureus (also known as MRSA), this research has huge implications for the veterinary sector. The heavy use of prophylactic antibiotics amongst the farming sector and the growing number of antibiotic-resistant disease strains have provoked great concern, particularly in light of the implications for zoonotic transmission. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) have both expressed grave concern about the rise in deaths and the financial impact of antibiotic resistant disease, and EU Health Commissioner John Dalli recently told the European Commission that “We need to take swift and determined action if we do not want to lose antimicrobial medicines as essential treatment against bacterial infections in both humans and animals.”
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is inviting applications from veterinary students to attend a one-week extramural studies (EMS) placement in July 2026.
