Australian scientists make breakthrough in fight against superbugs

SYDNEY: The Australian discovery of the threedimensional structure of a protein responsible for multidrug resistant bacteria is a huge step forward in the global fight against superbugs, the lead scientist of the study said.

The protein, called EptA, causes multi- drug resistance by masking bacteria from both the human immune system and important antibiotics, ABC News reported.

Commonly called superbugs for their resistance to even the most potent antibiotics, multidrug resistant bacteria are responsible for approximately 700,000 deaths a year.

The World Health Organisation has predicted this figure could rise to 10 million by 2050.

A colistin- resistant strain of bacteria uncovered in 2015 was of grave concern for health authorities.

Colistin is used as a lastresort antibiotic for bacteria untreatable by other means, but extensive use of the drug in livestock in China produced a resistant strain of bacteria.

Professor of Structural Biology Alice Vrielink from the University of Western Australia, where the EptA structure was discovered, said the breakthrough was particularly important because it would allow the development of a drug to prevent superbugs hiding from medication.

“It won’t stop superbugs from being out there, but it will allow us to treat superbugs,” she said.

“Many of these superbugs are superbugs because of this masking function. What this research will do is allow us to de-mask the bacteria.”

Vrielink said genes containing the co list anresistant protein could move between bacteria, resulting in previously treatable bacterial infections becoming untreatable.

“If this resistance has moved into the human population we have an alarming situation on our hands,” she said.