A new way to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria

At a time when scientists are quickly running out of options, McMaster researchers are using a new approach to fighting antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The technique involves researchers in the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research targeting the cell membranes of MRSA—a bacteria responsible for increasing the number of life-threatening infections both in hospitals and communities. “Bacterial membranes have been relatively unexplored as targets for new antibiotics because of concerns of the potential for toxicity of membrane-active drugs,” said Eric Brown, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences. Brown ultimately followed a suggestion from one of his students, Maya Farha. She suggested targeting bacterial membranes with various combinations of membrane-active chemicals that show synergy. In other words, two chemical compounds that together would have a greater effect and avoid toxicity. “The bacterial membrane is a fundamental structure for energy production and storage in bacteria that functions like a battery,” said Brown....