Breakthrough in infection research
An international team of researchers has discovered a new antibiotic.
They are both a blessing and a curse; they can save lives, but also endanger them. The discovery of the first antibiotic was a milestone in the history of medicine. This new miracle weapon made it possible to cure many bacterial infections for the first time. Today, most operations would be impossible without antibiotics. But there is also a downside. Many bacteria have become resistant to these drugs, making them less effective. Recently, however, a research team from the USA, the UK and Germany made a significant breakthrough. The scientists discovered a new substance that is effective against many pathogens and, according to initial tests, does not trigger resistance. Called Teixobactin, the new antibiotic simultaneously attacks several different places in the cell-wall structure. Tanja Schneider from the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) has decoded the mode of action.
