Teixobactin is a聽聽reported in early 2015 by K. Lewis at Northeastern University (Boston) and colleagues around the world. The researchers used an innovative screening method to culture teixobactin-containing bacteria. They then identified and isolated the molecule.
In cell-based tests, teixobactin killed many types of Gram-positive pathogens, including drug-resistant strains. Tests in mice showed that the compound is effective against methicillin-resistant聽Staphylococcus aureus听补苍诲听Streptococcus pneumoniae聽with low toxicity. In addition, the researchers were unable to grow mutants of S. aureus听辞谤听Mycobacterium tuberculosis聽that resisted teixobactin. They believe that the compound avoids resistance by destroying the microbes鈥� ability to build cell walls rather than targeting specific proteins that change as bacteria mutate.
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