New Atlas

Medical Audio available

Superbug gene that resists "last resort" antibiotics detected in US for the first time

Michael Irving June 13, 2019

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria might also be one of the biggest medical issues of the 21st century. Now, a bacterial gene that grants resistance to “last resort” antibiotics has been detected in a patient in the US, for the first time.

A gene known as mcr-3.1 that grants bacteria like Salmonella resistance to "last resort" antibiotics has ...

Environment Audio available

Antibiotics found in world's rivers at levels up to 300 times above safe levels

Rich Haridy May 27, 2019

In a huge global study hundreds of rivers around the world have been tested for levels of common antibiotics. It found 65 percent of all samples contained some concentration of antibiotics, with the worst cases showing levels more than 300 times higher than the generally accepted safe threshold.

A new study has found that in over 100 of 700 river samples taken, antibiotic concentrations ...

Medical

World-first human treatment of antibiotic-resistant infection with genetically modified virus

Rich Haridy May 8, 2019

A new case study outlines the first use of a genetically modified virus to treat a life-threatening antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection. The successful treatment paves the way for larger clinical trials to establish how effective this experimental process could be in wider patient populations.

Three bacteriophages, or bacteria-eating viruses, were administered to the young patient suffering from a major antibiotic-resistant ...

Medical

Newly discovered "jumping" superbug gene threatens last-resort antibiotic

Nick Lavars May 8, 2019

The latest newly uncovered threat in the world of superbugs comes from scientists at Cornell University, who have discovered a previously unknown gene that can leap between organisms to facilitate resistance to an important last-resort antibiotic.

Graphic depicting the newly discovered mcr-9 gene

Medical Audio available

One-two punch weakens bacteria's defenses against antibiotics

Michael Irving May 1, 2019

Bacteria are quickly evolving resistances to antibiotics, to the extent that our best drugs might not work in the terrifyingly-near future. Now, researchers from Thomas Jefferson University have found a new way to weaken bacterial defenses, slowing down the development of antibiotic resistance.

Researchers have found a new way to weaken bacterial defenses against antibiotics

Medical Audio available

Blue light might just take the "super" out of superbugs

Michael Irving April 3, 2019

Antibiotics were one of the 20th century's most important scientific discoveries, but their usefulness is quickly fading. Researchers at Purdue University have found that blue light can weaken a particularly nasty “superbug” and make it vulnerable to even mild antiseptics again.

Researchers have found that shining blue light on antibiotic-resistant bacteria can make them vulnerable to drugs ...

Medical Audio available

Anti-evolution drugs could keep gambling bacteria from developing antibiotic resistance

Michael Irving April 2, 2019

Bacteria are fast evolving resistance to antibiotics. A long term strategy might be to prevent them from evolving in the first place. A new study has found that bacteria use clever gambles to adapt – and showed how we could rig the game in our favor.

A new study has found that "anti-evolvability" drugs could be a long-term solution against superbugs

Medical Audio available

The superbug-fighting potential of fish slime

Nick Lavars April 1, 2019

The growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is seeing scientists get more and more creative in their search for new drugs that might help us maintain the upper hand. Researchers have uncovered what they say is a potential goldmine of antibiotics in the form of fish slime.

Scientists are hailing the mucus that coats fish as a potential goldmine of antibiotics

Biology Audio available

More evidence shows bacteria "flying" around the world to share genes

Michael Irving March 26, 2019

Bacteria can share genes with each other to quickly develop resistance to antibiotics. A new genetic study of bacteria from around the world has found that isolated populations share incredibly similar “molecular memories,” suggesting they’re basically flying around the world to spread their genes.

A hot spring in Chile, where some of the bacteria in the study were taken from

Space Audio available

Spacefaring bacteria prove no match for new space station antimicrobial coating

Michael Irving March 19, 2019

Humans weren’t built for space travel. The immune system takes a beating, leaving us more vulnerable to infection. Astronauts have now tested a new antimicrobial coating on board the International Space Station (ISS), and found it kept space-faring bugs at bay for well over a year.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have tested a new antimicrobial coating called AGXX and found ...