The secret of "invulnerability" is cracked, and "super bacteria" may be conquered soon

[science and technology development of China Pharmaceutical network] generally, people call the bacteria that are resistant to almost all antibiotics super bacteria It can cause pustules and blisters in people, and even gradually make people's muscles necrosis Australian scientists have revealed that they have found the secret of "super bacteria" being invulnerable to drugs, which is to wrap their protein like armor Specifically, the molecular structure of this layer of protein is completely mapped out "You can think of this layer of protein as a door lock, with a special locking structure inside; if you present this hidden structure in 3D, it's not hard to find the key to open this lock," said molecular biologist Alice vrelink She and colleagues at the University of Western Australia cracked the molecular structure of the protein, called EPTA In the face of bacteria protected by this protein armor, colistin in antibiotics can't help, and colistin is usually used as the latter method only when all other treatment attempts fail When the molecular structure of the protein armor is broken, humans can polish weapons and subdue superbugs The terrible thing about superbugs is their resistance and their ability to keep up with the times Last spring's media coverage of the discovery of a super bacterium in the United States was overwhelming, powerful enough to resist all known antibiotic drugs Cold and cold add some tragic color of the end of the world Scientists call the resistance of bacteria one of the great threats to human beings in the 21st century If this is alarmist, the data is not emotional According to the World Health Organization, at least 700000 people die of drug-resistant bacteria infection every year Superbugs have become a very challenging phenomenon in the field of global health care, which is generally attributed to overuse or even abuse of antibiotics Some governments, including the UK, have made rules to limit the use of antibiotics in order to prevent the "superbug" crisis According to one study, if we don't take any measures and let the super germs run rampant, by 2050, the number of people dying of drug-resistant bacteria infection will increase by 10 million every year, more than the number of people dying of cancer Evidence from all over the world shows that the antibiotics, myxobacillin, have a strong enemy This means that there are already some cases of infection in the world that are incurable Professor Flylink's team used X-ray crystallography to create the three-dimensional molecular structure of the protein If we can try to prevent the protein to protect the bacteria against the attack of the human immune system and antibiotics, we will eliminate the resistance of superbugs She estimated that the next step would be to develop drugs to treat superbug infections It is estimated that two kinds of drugs may be needed First, use one medicine to smash the armour of the superbug to expose it, and then use the corresponding medicine to kill the germs It may take years before the secrets of superbug resistance can be revealed for clinical use, she said The research project, led by Professor Flylink, was funded by the Australian government and published in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Scientists from several other universities and institutions also participated in the project.