Indian scientists’ discovery can lead to development of new antibiotics

The scientists at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) here have identified a potential area where new antibiotics can be developed. The identification of ‘potential drug target’ by CCMB scientist Manjula Reddy and her team assumes importance as the drug-resistance in bacteria is increasing worldwide and development of new antibiotics is declining over the years. “If we have to increase the size of a room, we have to break the walls and put new bricks. Likewise, bacteria is covered with a cell wall. The cell wall is made with something called peptidoglycan. If the cell has to increase in size, it has to break what is there earlier and put new pieces. If it cannot break, cell wall cannot grow,” said CCMB Director Ch Mohan Rao, speaking to reporters here. “She (Manjula Reddy) discovered that there are certain enzymes which break this… If we can target this enzyme and prevent that...