A small study has found evidence of colistin-resistant bacteria in the gut. 77% of such bacteria were found to be food-acquired. There is a possibility of colistin resistant food Klebsiella to spread to human Klebsiella in the gut. A small study involving 65 stool samples taken from patients from a single hospital in Chennai found … Continue reading Presence of colistin-resistant bacteria of food origin in the gut is cause for worry
Antibiotics
Cholera bacteria from India show high drug-resistance
The 443 cholera-causing Vibrio cholerae isolates isolated from patients from Kolkata and Delhi show very high drug resistance to 22 antibiotics belonging to nine classes. About 99% of the isolates are resistant to more than two antibiotics, 17% to more than 10 antibiotics, and 7.5% to more than 14 antibiotics. A study of 443 clinical … Continue reading Cholera bacteria from India show high drug-resistance
IMTECH’s novel compound treats colistin-resistant bacteria
A novel compound isolated from a soil bacterium by IMTECH researchers shows promise in killing Gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae and E. coli) that are resistant to colistin. Compared with colistin, 16 times less of the compound is enough to kill colistin-resistant bacteria. The compound also resists spontaneous mutation. A novel compound isolated from a soil … Continue reading IMTECH’s novel compound treats colistin-resistant bacteria
Podcast: How Klebsiella bacteria develop colistin resistance
Abdul Ghafur explains how the team deciphered the mechanism by which Klebsiella bacteria develop resistance to colistin, a last-line antibiotic. Mutations and insertional inactivation of the mgrB gene, which is present in the chromosome, are responsible for colistin resistance in Klebsiella. The inserational sequence that moves out from the chromosome to plasmid before spreading to other … Continue reading Podcast: How Klebsiella bacteria develop colistin resistance
Mechanism of colistin resistance in food Klebsiella bacteria unravelled
Researchers found colistin-resistant bacteria in 49% vegetable, meat samples in Chennai. They have for the first time deciphered the mechanism by which food Klebsiella bacteria develop resistance to colisitin, a last-line antibiotic. Mutations and insertional inactivation of the mgrB gene, which is present in the chromosome, are responsible for colistin resistance in Klebsiella. A study carried out in … Continue reading Mechanism of colistin resistance in food Klebsiella bacteria unravelled
IIT Roorkee finds new drug target for antibiotic resistant bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii
IIT Roorkee researchers have identified the RNA protein Hfq as a potential drug target. Once the Hfq gene is removed, the Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria become less virulent, more susceptible to environmental stress, and survival under desiccation is compromised. Targeting the virulence of the bacteria opens up a new opportunity to develop more effective drugs. Researchers … Continue reading IIT Roorkee finds new drug target for antibiotic resistant bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii
Egyptian vultures wintering in India undergo a change in drug-resistance pattern
Researchers found a significant change in the pattern of drug resistance in E. coli seen in Egyptian vultures that come to India for wintering. They were resistant to certain antibiotics when they arrived and developed resistance to certain other antibiotics when they left. The E. coli seen in over 90% of Egyptian vultures that migrate … Continue reading Egyptian vultures wintering in India undergo a change in drug-resistance pattern
IGIB scientists discover a skin bacterium with antimicrobial activity
Synthetic peptides, which have sequences identical to the natural ones isolated from the bacteria, prepared in the lab showed antimicrobial activity. This makes culturing of bacteria for peptides redundant and developing new antimicrobial compounds a step closer. Bacteria found on the skin are known to harbour a large repertoire of antimicrobial agents. A new bacterial … Continue reading IGIB scientists discover a skin bacterium with antimicrobial activity
Why BMJ’s advice to ‘stop taking antibiotics when you feel better’ should be ignored
Stopping antibiotics half way through the course, when a patient feels better, may not guarantee cure of the infection. A single analysis piece published on July 26, 2017 in the journal BMJ (British Medical Journal) has done more harm than good to the field of antimicrobial stewardship. Though the article makes a strong case for carrying out … Continue reading Why BMJ’s advice to ‘stop taking antibiotics when you feel better’ should be ignored
IISc researchers’ quest to make a common antibiotic more effective against TB
Bacteria develop resistance against a drug only when they are exposed to it or when the drug is misused. But now, a team of researchers from India has found whether and how drug resistance can develop against a candidate drug called Augmentin even before the drug is approved for treating patients with drug-resistant TB. The … Continue reading IISc researchers’ quest to make a common antibiotic more effective against TB
Science Chronicle 