Researchers Achieve Breakthrough in Combating VRE Infections

Innovations and Initiatives Innovations and Initiatives

Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-01-24 12:24:44 |

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified twelve critical antibiotic-resistant pathogens, including vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), such as Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium). VRE infections, which cause severe hospital-acquired illnesses like endocarditis and sepsis, have developed resistance to multiple antibiotics, underscoring the urgent need for innovative antimicrobial treatments.

To address this crisis, a research team led by Professor Takeshi Murata from the Graduate School of Science at Chiba University, Japan, has discovered a promising compound, V-161, that effectively inhibits the growth of VRE infections. The team studied Na+-transporting V-ATPase, a sodium-pumping enzyme in E. hirae, a model organism closely related to E. faecium, to better understand the enzyme’s potential as a target for antimicrobial treatment.

The growing threat of VRE infections

VRE infections are particularly dangerous due to their resistance to vancomycin, a key antibiotic for treating enterococcal infections. In 2017 alone, VRE caused an estimated 54,500 infections and 5,400 deaths among hospitalized patients in the United States. The infection spreads via direct person-to-person contact, contaminated surfaces or equipment, and the movement of VRE from the gut to other body areas, such as wounds.

Targeting VRE with precision

The researchers hypothesized that Na+-transporting V-ATPase could be an ideal target for developing antibiotics that selectively combat VRE without harming beneficial bacteria. This enzyme helps pump sodium ions out of VRE cells, aiding their survival in alkaline environments like the human gut. Importantly, the enzyme is absent in beneficial bacteria and functions differently in humans, making it a selective target.

The team screened over 70,000 compounds and identified V-161 as a strong candidate. This compound effectively reduced VRE growth under alkaline conditions and inhibited colonization in the mouse small intestine, demonstrating its therapeutic potential.

Advancing future antibiotic development

A significant achievement of this study was the detailed structural analysis of the enzyme’s V0 membrane domain, revealing how V-161 binds to the interface between the c-ring and the a-subunit, blocking sodium transport and disrupting enzyme function. These insights provide a foundation for designing drugs that target this enzyme.

While V-161 shows promise, further research is needed to enhance its efficacy and broaden its effectiveness against other bacterial strains. The team plans to refine V-161 and test it against additional pathogens to fully realize its potential.

Dr. Murata expressed optimism about the findings, emphasizing their importance in combating VRE and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria. He highlighted the ultimate goal of developing a new class of antibiotics that complement existing treatments and offer a powerful solution to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. This groundbreaking work represents a major step forward in infectious disease treatment and public health.

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