Australian researchers developed antibodies targeting pseudaminic acid, a sugar molecule unique to bacterial cells, offering a precise way to combat antibiotic-resistant infections without harming human cells.
The treatment successfully eradicated drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in mice, a WHO-listed “critical priority” pathogen responsible for deadly hospital-acquired infections.
By synthesizing bacterial sugars in the lab, scientists engineered pan-specific antibodies that bind tightly to bacterial surfaces, enabling highly targeted immune responses.
Unlike traditional antibiotics, this method delivers pre-made antibodies to neutralize infections quickly, offering both treatment and prevention for high-risk patients.
Researchers aim to develop this into clinical treatments within five years, with broader applications against other ESKAPE pathogens that evade conventional antibiotics.
Researchers in Australia have uncovered a novel strategy to fight antibiotic-resistant superbugs by targeting a sugar molecule found exclusively on bacterial cells. The breakthrough, published in Nature Chemical Biology, could pave the way for a new generation of immunotherapies to combat infections that currently evade conventional antibiotics.
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