PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Researchers pinpoint superbug resistance protein

2013-12-02
(Press-News.org) Contact information: c.j.bunting@leeds.ac.uk
c.j.bunting@leeds.ac.uk
0044-113-343-2049
University of Leeds
Researchers pinpoint superbug resistance protein Researchers have identified a resistance protein that allows bacteria to survive chlorhexidine, a disinfectant commonly used in wipes, cleansers and mouthwashes in hospitals.

A study led jointly by the University of Leeds and Macquarie University in Australia showed how the superbug Acinetobacter baumannii—prevalent among soldiers treated in medical facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan—can pump the disinfectant out of its system.

The findings are critical for the design of new chemicals to combat the germ.

Professor Peter Henderson of the University of Leeds' School of Biomedical Sciences said: "The Australians saw that, in response to chlorhexidine, a gene becomes active and produces a protein they called Acinetobacter Chlorhexidine Efflux, or 'Ace' for short. Working together, we demonstrated that Ace binds to the disinfectant and effectively pumps the chlorhexidine that has leaked through the cell wall out again."

Acinetobacter baumannii was once treatable with normal antibiotics but is now one of the most worrying superbugs threatening the medical system. It has been particularly associated with infections of military personnel injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Its ability to survive on disinfected artificial surfaces for long periods has allowed it to thrive and spread through the military and into the civilian medical system.

Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer for England, said in March that antibiotic resistance posed a "catastrophic threat" that could mean that even minor surgeries might carry deadly risks by the 2030s.

Professor Henderson said: "Identifying the resistance protein now allows us to look for a compound that will inhibit the protein's activity and form the basis of a new treatment against infection."

The early indications are that the protein specifically binds with chlorhexidine rather than other antibiotic molecules. Although some multi-drug resistant proteins have been found, the fight against superbugs has generally been characterised by a painstaking search for several proteins associated with resistance to particular drugs and chemicals.

Members of the University of Leeds' Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology are at the forefront of work on "pump" proteins.

Professor Henderson said: "There are very similar genes in other pathogenic organisms. Our next step will be to explore what these proteins do in those other organisms. In some cases, it is strongly suggested that they make the germ resistant to chlorhexidine, but in others it appears to be something else. We need to find out what that is."

He added: "The bad news is that the bugs are winning. We can't devise new antibiotics nearly fast enough to find a new way of dealing with them and there is not enough funding to pursue the research. This project is typical of the sort of work that we have to do to win the fight against superbugs."

Professor Ian Paulsen at Macquarie University said: "Antiseptics and disinfectants are a key defence used to control the spread of these bacteria in hospitals particularly. Following this discovery, we plan to investigate ways to block this pump. Such work is important in ensuring that we can continue to use successfully this disinfectant to reduce rates of infection in hospitals."

### The research is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The work was funded under a European International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) project involving the University of Oslo, University of Leeds and Macquarie University. Researchers from Flinders University, Australia also contributed to the research.

Further Information Professor Henderson is available for interview.



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Snapshots differentiate molecules from their mirror image

2013-12-02
Snapshots differentiate molecules from their mirror image Max Planck researchers are able to reveal the spatial structure of chiral molecules This news release is available in German. Small difference, large effect: Most biological molecules ...

Junk food and poor oral health increase risk of premature heart disease

2013-12-02
Junk food and poor oral health increase risk of premature heart disease The association between poor oral health and increased risk of cardiovascular disease should make the reduction of sugars such as those contained in junk food, particularly fizzy drinks, an important ...

How a legless, leaping fish that lives on land avoids predators

2013-12-02
How a legless, leaping fish that lives on land avoids predators SYDNEY: One of the world's strangest animals – a legless, leaping fish that lives on land - uses camouflage to avoid attacks by predators such as birds, lizards and crabs, new research ...

Telescope to track space junk using youth radio station

2013-12-02
Telescope to track space junk using youth radio station Inaugural results reveal enormous potential of SKA precursor A combination of pop songs, talkback radio and cutting-edge science has enabled Australian astronomers to identify ...

Mild hypothermia as a treatment for CNS injuries: Positive or negative effects?

2013-12-02
Mild hypothermia as a treatment for CNS injuries: Positive or negative effects? There are few data on the effectiveness and mechanism underlying mild hypothermia in the treatment of central nervous system injuries. Therefore, there is a need to investigate the potentially ...

Treatment of malignant glioma using hyperthermia

2013-12-02
Treatment of malignant glioma using hyperthermia Malignant glioma is very sensitive to heat. Prof. Yunlong Ge and team from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, China used a brain tumor hyperthermia apparatus to treat malignant glioma patients, ...

Valproic acid promotes neuronal regeneration after brachial plexus avulsion

2013-12-02
Valproic acid promotes neuronal regeneration after brachial plexus avulsion Brachial plexus root avulsion is the most serious type of peripheral nerve injury. Valproic acid has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects and promote neurite outgrowth in several ...

Joint EORTC-ESTRO session to focus on current developments in soft tissue sarcoma treatment

2013-12-02
Joint EORTC-ESTRO session to focus on current developments in soft tissue sarcoma treatment The EORTC will host a joint session with ESTRO at ESTRO 33 focusing on current developments in soft tissue sarcoma treatment. It will take place from 14:30– ...

The more the better!

2013-12-02
The more the better! Study of the University Bielefeld and TU Braunschweig shows the impact of polyandry on reproductive success in fire salamanders This news release is available in German. Researchers at Bielefeld University and the ...

Maternal mortality: A reduction in deaths from haemorrhage

2013-12-02
Maternal mortality: A reduction in deaths from haemorrhage Twenty recommendations have been formulated by the French National Expert Committee on Maternal Mortality with the aim of raising ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

A new way to produce ammonia more efficiently

Kennesaw State secures grant to build community of AI educators

Impact of decline in rescue breathing on child survival in Japan

High-status producers have the support to radically shift their artists’ image, while mid-status producers follow trends

High-performance electrode material that withstands seawater!

Targeted delivery of microRNA sponge short-hairpin RNA via VIR-inspired biotechnical vector: Enhancing cancer therapy

When politics drives entrepreneurial innovation

FAU researchers show adopting healthy habits can improve cognitive decline

Outstanding postdoctoral researchers honored with 2025 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists

Fly through Gaia’s 3D map of stellar nurseries

Precision targeting of the centromedian nucleus in drug-resistant epilepsy highlighted in brain network disorders

Better understanding of bitter taste receptors: An AlphaFold3-based structure study

Artificial intelligence spots hidden signs of depression in students’ facial expressions

UT San Antonio astronomy professor awarded for advancements in planetary science

‘Internal alarm system’ harnesses immune system against cancer

Stem cell transplant for stroke leads to brain cell growth and functional recovery in mice

Cleveland Clinic study shows greater long-term benefits of bariatric surgery compared to GLP-1 medicines

Revised diagnostic criteria for vascular cognitive impairment and dementia—The VasCog-2-WSO criteria

The ATREIDES program in search of lost exo-Neptunes

Ancient crop discovered in the Canary Islands thanks to archaeological DNA

Placental research may transform our understanding of autism and human brain evolution

Mapping the Universe, faster and with the same accuracy

Study isolates population aging as primary driver of musculoskeletal disorders

Designing a sulfur vacancy redox disruptor for photothermoelectric and cascade‑catalytic‑driven cuproptosis–ferroptosis–apoptosis therapy

Recent advances in dynamic biomacromolecular modifications and chemical interventions: Perspective from a Chinese chemical biology consortium

CRF and the Jon DeHaan Foundation to launch TCT AI Lab at TCT 2025

Canada’s fastest academic supercomputer is now online at SFU after $80m upgrades

Architecture’s past holds the key to sustainable future

Laser correction for short-sightedness is safe and effective for older teenagers

About one in five people taking Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro say food tastes saltier or sweeter than before

[Press-News.org] Researchers pinpoint superbug resistance protein