Alternative to antibiotics under development

Small molecules that interrupt communication between bacteria may provide an alternative to antibiotics, says a new study.

Published in the journal Molecular Cell, the study shows that disrupting 'quorum sensing' – or the way bacteria communicate collective information, such as population density, can stop bacteria from killing a host organism.

... “This is very exciting work ... Using combined systematic screening and rational design, new drugs were discovered that can inhibit bacterial killing in worm models, but are not antibiotics. Instead, these are small molecules that effectively interfere with the bacterial communication system, rendering the microbes inoffensive.”

via Alternative to antibiotics under development | COSMOS magazine.

Research in this area has been going on for many years:

Release Date: January 24, 2003

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- University at Buffalo scientists have discovered a promising new drug lead that works by inhibiting the sophisticated bacterial communication system called quorum sensing.

The new compound is active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the gram-negative infection that strikes -- and usually kills -- cystic fibrosis patients and many others whose immune systems are compromised. The bacteria, like many others that have been routinely treated by antibiotics, have developed strains that are antibiotic-resistant.

The compound and the method the UB scientists used to develop it are described in the current (January 25, 2003) issue of Chemistry & Biology. - buffalo