Nano Superbug-Killers -Identifies Bacteria That Have Become Resistant to Antibiotics

Antibiotics are one of the greatest things ever discovered by humans. They've saved countless lives, they're the cornerstone of our modern "not dropping dead of minor infections" society, they were discovered by accident and they're not going to work forever. Sorry to end on a downer but this stuff is kind of important.

"Superbugs" aren't tiny S-logoed avengers out to save microbial innocents from bacterial Lex Luthors: they're disease-causing bacteria which have become resistant to our antibiotic countermeasures. This is an unavoidable effect of treating them - as drugs are used to kill the unwanted invaders they force a selection process which favors those resistant to the treatment, evolving strains which laugh in the face of medicine.

The only upside to this grim fact is that this is one of the few situations where you can talk about evolution without creationists getting in your face. Those who claim that a kind and loving God created all things exactly as they are tend to steer clear of discussions involving anthrax, leprosy and tuberculosis. Possibly because they'd have to redefine "kind and loving" quite a lot and the whole "it is sent as a test" spiel doesn't fly for a man coughing up his lungs while his face rots off.

Researchers at University College London have developed a tool which could help us stay ahead in the antibiotic arms race. A nanoscale springboard system has been designed to rapidly screen potential hunter-killer chemicals. The device consists of a sheet of silicon covered in tiny nanotech levers which reflect laser light. The other side of the lever is covered with mucopeptides taken from the surface of the target bacteria.

The drugs to be tested work by latching onto the bacteria and literally ripping its cell wall to pieces, exposing the vulnerable core to destruction by the surrounding environment. When a drug can latch onto the mucopeptide, it bends the cantilever and alters the reflection of the laser. The response to the drug can be observed almost instantly. While this technique only works for surface-latching antibiotics (by no means the only antibiotic mechanism), Professor McKendry and colleagues are already planning an upgrade where entire bacterial cells will be pinned to the nano-lever and stretched by drugs.

When a team is literally putting disease on the rack and getting all Inquisition on it, you know they're serious.

By Luke McKinney

Image credit: Ndieyira et al Nature Nanotechnology 2008

Superbug killers in the balance from New Scientist

Comments

[Nephish777]

Please stop preaching your RELIGION of evolution. The Creator is far more complex than you give Him created for. It takes far more faith to accept evolution than the truth of Scripture.

[BillyD]

"Please stop preaching your RELIGION of evolution."

So a website dedicated to science should steer clear of evolution? Riigghhtt...

[clownfish]

"It takes far more faith to accept evolution than the truth of Scripture."

It is far easier to accept evolution, particularly when it is so easy to demonstrate using the data accumulated (particularly as referenced in the above article), than to accept Scripture as "truth, when it was written by superstitous individuals that lacked any scientific education, and probably couldn't count past 10 without checking the front end of their sandals.

[Jimmyboy]

You know, recently there was an article about a shark that gave birth without having been fertilized by a male shark. Ever wonder if that was possible in mammals too? If it can happen in one species.. why not another? is nature that particular? after all, didn't we all evolve from fish? wouldn't the hypothesis of the ability for mammals to procreate without fertilization drive the religious nut-jobs absolutely ape-****?

[TheTopDoc]

Your comments and thought processes about Creationists (and evolution for that matter) are unprofessional. They show a lack of understanding and basic respect. Your attitude toward those with differing viewpoints is childish and far worse than those you mock. Do yourself and the readers a favor by keeping your prejudice to yourself.

[Iain]

In response to; "Your comments and thought processes about Creationists (and evolution for that matter) are unprofessional. They show a lack of understanding and basic respect. Your attitude toward those with differing viewpoints is childish and far worse than those you mock. Do yourself and the readers a favor by keeping your prejudice to yourself."

Every time someone shows a measure of disrespect to religion, any religion, they get told something like this. Religion does NOT deserve respect, and those of us who DON'T believe have a right to defend what we do believe in, and that is science. Evolution, contrary to popular belief is NOT a theory, it is a fact complete with living evidence. Evidence which is all around us.

If a few religious don't like that, or having their belief put down. Check your history books and discover how many non-believers were killed by believers.

[Matt]

I do not mean to offend anyone by this and I apologize if I do. Did it ever occur to anyone that you can be a Christian and believe in evolution to a certain extent. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that evolution is completely correct. But at the same time, a lot of creationists don't have it right either. We're all human, we all get things wrong. Perhaps we can just try to be more understanding of others with differing views.

[Jesse]

I love how one little line can spark an entire debate about creationism and evolution, when the amazing technological development expounded upon in relative depth goes unremarked. If this breakthrough is successful, I can't wait to see what loophole nature finds! Abortion anyone?
(Paul Tillich: "God does not exist. He is being-itself beyond essence and existence. Therefore to argue that God exists is to deny him." A Christian theologian, look him up, theists and atheists alike.)

[Jerry]

I hope you can see how much the uncalled-for display of your religious prejudice has distracted from your scientific communication.

[Philip Brown]

I live in a beautiful place where MRS is rampant. This development is great. good info.thank you.the author did us a favor posting this and was not trying to start a feeding frenzy. Doesn't the shark show a virgin birth is possible? Yes, is that related to the article? No.

[ikaruga]

@BillyD@ - what Nephish meant is that we can get the facts minus the sarcasm. That's "preaching religion" in the sense that ridiculing the opposition to get others in line is a common cult practice.

@Luke@ - isn't the title a misnomer? The "rack" merely detects what drugs are effective against *any* bacteria, not detect which bacteria are superbugs.

[Scott Smith]

I do not see where Newt Gingrich is qualified to weigh in on global warming, he is a politician not a atmospheric scientist. There is no reason to take his opinion in this matter seriously.

[TheTopDoc]

I find the extreme narrow mindedness of so many people quite perplexing where religion and science are concerned. I do not hold to the belief that religion and science are diametrically opposed. In fact, I believe that the two are different dimensions of the same quest, the quest for the truth. Neither science nor religion can adequately explain the whole. As for respect, I am sorry that we can not have an intelligent discussion without resorting to name calling and condescending remarks. I maintain that all persons and viewpoints deserve a modicum of respect. Our society has forsaken such values. Being respectful of another’s opinions and beliefs benefits us all and promotes true diversity. Neither the ‘Left’ nor the ‘Right’ (I hate those labels) should forsake respect.