Researchers
have found new ways to make antimicrobials that counter bacteria that cause
infections and diseases.
The
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have patented
technology for designing pathogen-targeted antimicrobials.
Molecular
biologist David Donovan at the Agricultural Research Service’s centre at
Beltsville, Maryland, found that viruses that infect bacteria (called bacteriophages),
produce enzymes that can be used to kill pathogens.
These
novel enzymes have been shown to be effective in killing pathogens such as streptococci
and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, also known as MRSA.
In
collaborations with industry, university and federal scientists, Donovan
demonstrated that these particular enzymes have molecular domains that can be
isolated and will act independently of their protein surroundings.
They
kill bacteria by eating or chewing up the walls of cells.
The
enzymes can be manipulated to create an antimicrobial that targets and kills
only specific pathogens.
This
greatly reduces the probability that non-targeted bacteria will develop
resistance.
