Key to ‘superbug’ antibiotic resistance discovered

Press/Media: Research

Description

The mechanism by which the potentially deadly superbug ‘Golden Staph’ evades antibiotic treatment has been discovered in an international study led by Monash University, providing the first important clues on how to counter antibiotic resistance.

‘Superbugs’ are bacteria that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics, presenting a global health threat. Researchers from Monash’s Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) are collaborating with Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science, and the NTU Institute of Structural Biology in Singapore to find a solution.

The Monash BDI researchers have identified the first important clues on how to ‘retool’ antibiotics to counter how bacteria evades the life-saving drugs.

Period10 May 2017 → 19 May 2018

Media coverage

12

Media coverage

Media contributions

6

Media contributions

  • Title How golden staph is learning to beat antibiotics
    Degree of recognitionNational
    Media name/outlet3AW Breakfast
    Media typeRadio
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    Date30/05/17
    URLhttps://omny.fm/shows/3aw-breakfast-with-ross-and-john/how-golden-staph-is-learning-to-beat-antibiotics#description
    PersonsMatthew Belousoff
  • TitleHow some golden staph infections can defeat antibiotics
    Degree of recognitionNational
    Media name/outletSydney Morning Herald
    Media typePrint
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    Date29/05/17
    DescriptionIn a finding that will have broad implications for drug design, scientists have learnt how golden staph changes its shape to thwart last-line antibiotics.

    Scientists based at Monash University's Biomedicine Discovery Institute used a giant microscope to document at a molecular level the changes that occurred in the bacteria when they became resistant to antibiotics.
    URLhttps://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/how-some-golden-staph-infections-can-defeat-antibiotics-20170529-gwfjiv.html
    PersonsMatthew Belousoff
  • TitleScientists work out how a superbug gets its power
    Degree of recognitionNational
    Media name/outletThe Herald
    Media typePrint
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    Date29/05/17
    DescriptionFACEBOOKSHARE
    TWITTERTWEET
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    In a finding that will have broad implications for drug design, scientists have learnt how golden staph changes its shape to thwart last-line antibiotics.

    Scientists based at Monash University's Biomedicine Discovery Institute used a giant microscope to document at a molecular level the changes that occurred in the bacteria when they became resistant to antibiotics.

    The study, published in the journal mBio, found a "surprising, unorthodox method of resistance".

    Nearly 1500 patients contracted golden staph in Australian public hospitals in 2014-15 and one in five cases were resistant to antibiotics, according to the latest government statistics.

    The infection is also common in the community; most cases are harmless, but they can be deadly to people with sepsis.
    URLhttps://www.theherald.com.au/story/4694496/scientists-work-out-how-a-superbug-gets-its-power/?cs=7
    PersonsMatthew Belousoff
  • TitleKey to 'superbug' antibiotic resistance discovered
    Degree of recognitionRegional
    Media name/outletMonash
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    Date19/05/17
    URLhttps://www.monash.edu/news/articles/key-to-superbug-antibiotic-resistance-discovered
    PersonsMatthew Belousoff
  • TitleMonash researchers discover key to 'superbug' antibiotic resistance
    Degree of recognitionInternational
    Media name/outletLab online
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    Date19/05/17
    DescriptionMonash researchers discover key to 'superbug' antibiotic resistance Deaths from antimicrobial resistance could rise to 10 million by 2050, surpassing the total deaths caused by cancer and diabetes combined, according to the World Health Organization. This has prompted the WHO to issue a warning about the need to urgently develop new antibiotics to counter the growing threat of ‘superbugs’. ‘Superbugs’ are bacteria that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics, presenting a global health threat. To tackle this global challenge, researchers from Monash’s Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) collaborated with Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science and the NTU Institute of Structural Biology in Singapore. The researchers have now discovered the molecular mechanism by which the potentially deadly superbug ‘Golden Staph’ evades antibiotic treatment, providing the first important clues on how to counter superbug antibiotic resistance. Their findings have been published in the journal mBio.
    URLhttps://www.labonline.com.au/content/life-scientist/news/australian-researchers-make-superbug-breakthrough-1274306013
    PersonsMatthew Belousoff
  • TitleKey to ‘superbug’ antibiotic resistance discovered
    Degree of recognitionRegional
    Media name/outletBDI comms
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    Date16/05/17
    Description
    Dr Matthew Belousoff and Professor Trevor Lithgow
    An international study led by Monash University has discovered the molecular mechanism by which the potentially deadly superbug ‘Golden Staph’ evades antibiotic treatment, providing the first important clues on how to counter superbug antibiotic resistance.

    ‘Superbugs’ are bacteria that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics, presenting a global health threat. To tackle this global challenge, researchers from Monash’s Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) are collaborating with Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science, and the NTU Institute of Structural Biology in Singapore.

    Now, the Monash BDI researchers have identified the first important clues on how to 'retool' antibiotics to counter the strategies bacteria enlist to evade the life-saving drugs, with the findings published in the journal mBio.

    Researchers used the latest generation electron microscopes at the Monash Ramaciotti Centre for Cryo-Electron Microscopy to image at the molecular level – for the first time – the changes that take place in superbugs that have become resistant to the most modern antibiotics.
    URLhttps://www.monash.edu/medicine/discovery-institute/news-and-events/news/monash-researchers-find-key-to-superbug-antibiotic-resistance
    PersonsMatthew Belousoff