Researchers from MIT and McMaster University have utilized artificial intelligence to discover a new antibiotic called abaucin, specifically effective against the drug-resistant bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii, commonly found in hospital environments. This bacterium poses significant health risks, causing serious infections like pneumonia and meningitis, particularly in patients with compromised immune systems. The discovery was made through a machine-learning model that screened nearly 7,000 compounds, identifying one with a unique mechanism that disrupts lipoprotein trafficking within bacterial cells.
Abaucin exhibited a narrow-spectrum killing ability, specifically targeting A. baumannii without affecting other beneficial bacteria, thus minimizing the risk of developing antibiotic resistance. The research team demonstrated that the drug can effectively treat wound infections caused by this bacterium in mice. The selectivity of abaucin was surprising given that all Gram-negative bacteria express the target enzyme, LolE, prompting further investigation into why A. baumannii is uniquely susceptible.
This breakthrough is pivotal in the ongoing battle against antibiotic-resistant infections, and the researchers are now focused on optimizing the drug for potential clinical use and exploring other pathways to combat various multidrug-resistant bacteria. Their findings were published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.
