Battling with superbugs
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong, working with colleagues from Nankai University and other institutions, have pioneered a promising strategy to tackle antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Their study, which builds on earlier work reported by Croucher News, explores the use of bismuth-based drugs in combination with existing antibiotics to combat the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known for its rapid development of antibiotic resistance, posing a significant threat to hospitalised and immunocompromised patients, as recognised by the World Health Organisation. The new approach, led by Professor Hongzhe Sun (Croucher Senior Research Fellow 2010) from the University of Hong Kong, involves using bismuth compounds, such as bismuth salicylate, to disrupt the bacteria's iron homeostasis—its ability to maintain a stable balance of iron within its cells. This disruption makes it harder for the bacteria to expel antibiotics, thus helping the antibiotics regain their efficacy.
The team’s combination therapy effectively eliminated multidrug-resistant infections in both cellular and animal models. It also prevented further resistance development, offering a potential clinical application to address the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.
This development also suggests the importance of repurposing existing drugs to enhance their effectiveness against resistant strains, providing a cost-effective and quick solution compared to developing new antibiotics. As antibiotic resistance continues to rise, such innovative strategies are considered crucial for safeguarding public health.
This research was recently published in Nature Microbiology, with Yushan Xia, Hongyan Li, Rubén Cebrián (University Hospital San Cecilio, Granada, Spain), Hongzhe Sun, and Oscar P. Kuipers (University of Groningen, Netherlands) mentioned as the main authors of the paper.
To see Professor Sun Hongzhe’s Croucher profile, click here.