Targeting biofilms with novel peptides

What is it about?

Bacterial infections that don’t respond to antibiotics are a growing medical problem, especially when more than one type of bacteria is involved. In this study, Wardell et al tested a group of new synthetic molecules called peptoids, which are designed to kill bacteria by targeting their protective membranes and internal systems. One of these, called TM18, stood out for its strong ability to kill two dangerous bacteria—Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus—both in lab tests and in infected mice. TM18 also broke down bacterial biofilms, which are protective layers that make infections hard to treat. When used with a common antibiotic, the two drugs worked extremely well together and almost completely cleared mixed infections in mice. These results suggest TM18 could be developed into a new treatment to fight tough, antibiotic-resistant infections.

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Why is it important?

Antibiotic-resistant infections are increasingly complex, especially when multiple bacterial species are involved. This study introduces a novel lipo-peptoid, TM18, as a potent antimicrobial agent that effectively disrupts the defenses of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, both individually and in dual-species settings. By targeting both biofilm formation and gene expression pathways related to bacterial tolerance, TM18 not only reduces bacterial load but also alleviates dermonecrosis in a murine infection model. Notably, the combined use of TM18 and meropenem approaches near eradication of co-infections. This work highlights TM18's potential to fill critical gaps in the treatment of dual-species infections and improve clinical outcomes against challenging antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

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