An antibiotic effect minus resistance

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-10/uow--aae102811.php

Public release date: 28-Oct-2011

Contact: Ching-Hong Yang
[e-mail]
414-229-4214
http://www.uwm.edu/">University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

An antibiotic effect minus resistance

Researcher's compound disables bacteria instead of killing them

After 70 years, antibiotics are still the primary treatment for halting the spread of bacterial infections. But the prevalence of antibiotic resistance is now outpacing the rate of new drug discovery and approval.

A microbiologist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) has discovered a different approach: Instead of killing the bacteria, why not disarm them, quashing disease without the worry of antibiotic resistance?

…

"We analyzed the genomic defense pathways in plants to identify all the precursors to infection," says Yang. "Then we used the information to discover a group of novel small molecules that interrupt one channel in the intricate pathway system."

Yang and collaborator Xin Chen, a professor of chemistry at Changzhou University in China, have tested the compound on two virulent bacteria that affect plants and one that attacks humans. They found it effective against all three and believe the compound can be applied to treatments for plants, animals and people.

…

[jeff47]

1. It doesn't work that way

Bacterial diseases are caused by the bacteria growing and thriving. Whether you kill or "disable" the bacteria doesn't matter. You are blocking it's food consumption.

So there would be selection pressure for bacteria to avoid the "disabling" effects - the ones that aren't disabled keep eating and thus grow and reproduce. Meaning resistance would develop against the "disabling" compounds just like resistance developed against antibiotics. In fact, 'disabling' the bacteria is worse - dead bacteria can't mutate. Disabled bacteria can.

[CanSocDem]

2. Indeed.

Better to sweep it under the rug and create a stronger antibiotic. Monsanto is waiting by the phone, always ready to appease the American consumer.

.

[jeff47]

3. Your conspiracy theories can't change basic biology.

The entire thrust of this article is that "disabling" bacteria would not lead to resistance. That is utterly and completely false, whether or not Monsanto is evil.