An antibiotic that does not provoke bacterial resistance.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090313150121.htm

Researchers have developed a new way to fight the different types of bacteria that causes numerous ailments to people all around the world. Previously Researchers would develop an antibiotic that would kill the bacteria thus saving the patient. The problem with this method is some bacteria survive the attack from the antibiotic and spawn mutants that are immune to the antibiotic. Eventually those that are immune to the antibiotic becomes the majority of the bacteria and the problem arises again. Researchers then would have to develop a new antibiotic to fight off this new bacteria. Obviously this would be an endless cycle.

Researchers have learned they can disrupt the nasty effects of that certain bacteria produces in the patient by disrupting signaling molecules that induce the bacteria to harm whoever it is infecting. Bacteria uses a MTAN enzyme to synthesize autoinducers which makes the Bacteria produce damaging factors that harm the patient. The way Bacteria communicates with these signaling molecules is called quorum sensing. Researchers have learned when they disrupt the MTAN enzyme they can prevent most of the damaging effects of the Bacteria and the bacteria does not develop a resistance to this. This new way to treat bacteria could save many lives because it takes time to develop new antibiotics and this method could be done very quickly and it is not harmful to the human patient.