Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery of a new class of antibiotic called Zosurabalpin, demonstrating its effectiveness against Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (Crab), a bacterium posing a severe threat due to extensive drug resistance. Crab, labeled as a priority 1 critical pathogen by the World Health Organization, is particularly problematic in hospital settings, especially for ventilator patients.
Zosurabalpin, currently undergoing human trials after successful tests in mouse models for pneumonia and sepsis, targets the bacterium’s outer membrane. Researchers, led by Prof Daniel Kahne at Harvard University, found that the antibiotic prevents Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) transport, ultimately killing the bacteria. Additionally, Zosurabalpin significantly reduced bacterial levels in Crab-induced pneumonia and prevented sepsis-related deaths in mice.
Dr. Andrew Edwards, a senior lecturer in molecular microbiology at Imperial College London, highlighted the significance of this discovery, considering Crab’s resistance to multiple antibiotics, making treatment challenging. Although Zosurabalpin alone won’t solve the antimicrobial resistance threat, it opens avenues for future efforts targeting similar transport systems in different bacteria.
The study’s uniqueness lies in the antibiotic’s chemical makeup and mechanism of action, according to the researchers. Another promising antibiotic, murepavadin, currently in development, targets LPS transport in a different way, showing potential against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and suggesting broader applicability against multi-antibiotic resistant bacteria like Klebsiella and E. coli.
Despite the promising findings, translating new drugs from animal studies to human trials poses significant challenges. Meanwhile, the UK’s science, innovation, and technology committee advocates exploring alternative treatments, such as bacteriophages—bacteria-killing viruses.
The committee recommends establishing a facility at the Rosalind Franklin laboratory in the West Midlands to support the development of phage therapies, providing a potential alternative to antibiotics for resistant infections. The current hurdle involves meeting manufacturing standards for clinical trials, and the proposed facility could address this issue, fostering progress in this innovative field.
