Combating Antibiotic Resistance: Beyond Reducing Animal Feed Usage
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma have discovered a new method to overcome antimicrobial resistance by identifying molecules that inhibit bacterial efflux pumps, which enhance the efficacy of antibiotics. This breakthrough, involving a "molecular wedge" mechanism, offers a promising avenue for new treatments against antibiotic resistance, addressing a worldwide concern identified by the World Health Organization. The inhibitors target the area between the inner and outer cell membranes, increasing the antibacterial activities of antibiotics and facilitating the development of new therapeutics to combat antibiotic resistance.