Summary:
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Revolutionary Antibiotic: Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have developed a new class of antibiotic called macrolones, which targets bacteria in two ways, significantly reducing the likelihood of resistance. This dual-action approach could make it 100 million times harder for bacteria to develop resistance compared to traditional antibiotics.
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Mechanisms of Action: Macrolones combine the structures of two widely used antibiotics: macrolides and fluoroquinolones. Macrolides, such as erythromycin, inhibit protein production by targeting the ribosome, while fluoroquinolones, like ciprofloxacin, disrupt the DNA structure by targeting the enzyme DNA gyrase. The dual targeting approach ensures that bacteria would need to simultaneously develop defenses against both mechanisms, a feat that is nearly impossible.
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Research Findings: Experiments have shown that this innovative antibiotic effectively kills bacteria by attacking both protein production and DNA structure at the same concentration. This breakthrough provides chemists with a roadmap for optimizing macrolones to maximize their efficacy against bacterial infections, paving the way for more robust and resistant-proof treatments in the future.
For more details on this groundbreaking development, read more at SciTechDaily.
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