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IIT Roorkee researchers have recently discovered a new antibacterial small molecule (IITR00693) that could help in the fight against drug-resistant infections.

Professor Ranjana Pathania, Mahak Saini, and Amit Gaurav, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Roorkee; Varsha Gupta of Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh; Ashish Kothari and Balram Ji Omar of AIIMS, Rishikesh; and Amitabha Bhattacharjee from Assam University led the research.

In a press release, IIT Roorkee said the molecule, discovered after a rigorous screening procedure, has demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against wide-ranging Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including some of the most challenging drug-resistant strains. With many bacterial infections becoming invulnerable to existing treatments, the discovery of this new molecule delivers the potential for more adequate and targeted therapies. IITR00693 works like a dual sword; it not only knocks down the most stubborn bacteria but also controls the emergence of resistance, guaranteeing that it remains effective for generations.

It added that the findings of this research had been published in the American Chemical Society Journal – ACS Infectious Diseases. This could open new research routes on treatment options for soft and skin tissue infections.

Professor K K Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, said we are now working to further develop the molecule into a feasible therapeutic agent that can be experimented with in clinical trials. This step is essential in developing new antibiotics, as it will allow for the evaluation of the molecule's protection, effectiveness, and potential side effects in soft and skin tissue infections.

Ranjana Pathania, the Lead researcher, said we aim to identify a small molecule that can potentiate presently used antibiotics. IITR00693, a novel antibacterial small molecule, enhances the antibacterial activity of polymyxin B against Staphylococcus aureus & Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Herein, we examined in detail the mode of action of this interaction and the molecule’s ability to fight soft-tissue infections generated by S. aureus and P.aeruginosa.

News Source: The Hindu