Scientists from the University of McMaster have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Their study, published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology, reveals that the resistance of aminoglycosides – a class of antibiotics used to treat various infections – is much more complex than previously understood.
The study, led by Professor Jerry Wright, a renowned biochemistry and biomedical sciences expert, uncovered an unprecedented versatility in the APMA gene, which has long been studied for its role in bacterial stability. The research demonstrated that this gene can provide bacteria with different functions to resist various antibiotics.
Out of hundreds of known enzymes that confer stability to aminoglycosides, only this particular gene exhibited such flexible behavior. In Professor Wright’s words, “This is a unicorn. It looks different, works differently, and belongs to a completely different family of enzymes. It is unlike any known mechanisms of resistance to this class of antibiotics.”
Professor Wright, who is affiliated with the Institute for Research of Infectious Diseases named after Michael G. DeGroote, emphasized the historical significance of aminoglycosides as the first clinically significant antibiotics used to combat tuberculosis. However, their widespread use since the 1940s has led to a rise in antibiotic resistance, with the exception of Apramicin.
“Apramicin, despite being an aminoglycoside, evades most stability mechanisms, making it a powerful candidate for new clinical applications,” explains Professor Wright. “Unfortunately, the mechanism we are investigating is not one that Apramicin can bypass.”
The recent breakthrough in Professor Wright’s laboratory is of utmost importance, especially considering that Apramicin is currently undergoing clinical trials. If it receives approval, understanding how bacteria can resist it will be crucial in expanding its use.
“If we are to bring this drug to the market, we must know our enemy,” Professor Wright asserts. “Studying this unique stability mechanism can contribute to further investigations into the next generation of Apramicin or the development of diagnostic methods capable of detecting APMA in bacteria.”