Fight Against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Has a Glowing New Weapon

A research team led by scientists at The University of Texas at Austin has developed chemical probes to help identify an enzyme, produced by some types of E. coli and pneumococcal bacteria, known to break down several common types of antibiotics, making these bacteria dangerously resistant to treatment.

“In response to antibiotic treatment, bacteria have evolved various mechanisms to resist that treatment, and one of those is to make enzymes that basically chew up the antibiotics before they can do their job,” said Emily Que, assistant professor of chemistry and one of the leading researchers on the team. “The type of tool we developed gives us critical information that could keep us one step ahead of deadly bacteria.”