IIT Roorkee scientists identify molecule (IITR08367) to combat antibiotic resistance in urinary tract infections

With the rise in antibiotic-resistant infections posing a threat to public health worldwide, innovative solutions such as IITR08367 identified by IIT Roorkee scientists offer hope in preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics and responding to the urgent need for new therapeutic options.

In a revolutionary development in the fight against antibiotic resistance, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) have discovered a remarkable molecule called IITR08367, an effective weapon in the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections. drugs.

Antibiotic resistance is a pressing global concern, with World Health Organization forecasts suggesting that by 2050, millions of lives could be lost each year to resistant infections. Among the difficult pathogens is Acinetobacter baumannii, known for its resistance to antibiotics. A. baumannii often renders the antibiotic fosfomycin ineffective by deploying robust defense mechanisms, including the production of biofilms and specific efflux pumps like AbaF, which expel antibiotics from bacterial cells. These strategies make treatment of infections caused by A. baumannii extremely difficult. However, Prof Pathania's group at IIT Roorkee achieved a significant breakthrough by discovering IITR08367, a small molecule that acts as a potent inhibitor of the AbaF efflux pump. By inhibiting this pump, IITR08367 reduces the expulsion of fosfomycin from bacterial cells, making the antibiotic effective against A. baumannii.

This discovery not only revitalizes the effectiveness of fosfomycin, but also addresses the challenge of bacterial biofilm formation, which further contributes to antibiotic resistance. The molecule has been shown to be safe and effective in preclinical studies, raising hopes for more targeted and potent therapies against A. baumannii infections.

Published in the American Chemical Society Journal – Infectious Diseases SCA, this advance could potentially transform treatment options for urinary tract infections caused by multidrug-resistant A. baumannii. Professor Ranjana Pathania, principal investigator of the project, said, “This discovery represents an important step in the fight against antibiotic resistance. By targeting bacterial defense mechanisms, we can improve the effectiveness of existing antibiotics and pave the way for the development of new treatment strategies.

The societal impact of this progress is profound. With the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections posing a threat to public health worldwide, innovative solutions like IITR08367 offer hope by preserving the effectiveness of existing antibiotics and addressing the urgent need for new options therapeutics.

Today, the research team led by Professor Pathania, which includes Mahak Saini, Dr Amit Gaurav and Arsalan Hussain, is developing TR08367 into a potential therapeutic agent for clinical trials. This critical phase will evaluate the safety, effectiveness and potential side effects of the molecule in human patients, bringing us closer to combating antibiotic resistance on a global scale.