New lasso-shaped antibiotic kills drug-resistant bacteria
Researchers at McMaster University have identified a new molecule with antibiotic activity against a range of disease-causing bacteria, including those resistant to existing drugs.
The new molecule — isolated from soil samples taken from a laboratory technician’s garden — is called lariocidin due to its lasso-shaped structure.
The team say that in addition to its potent antibiotic activity, the molecule also shows low toxicity towards human cells, making it a promising molecule in the fight against drug-resistant infections.