Possible Antibiotic for MRSA Superbug

darkmeridian writes "Merck has discovered a possible treatment for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, a virulent superbug resistant to many current antibiotics. The new compound, platensimycin, was found in a sample of South African soil and works by preventing the bacteria from assembling fatty acids into its cell membrane. This mechanism of action is novel among antibiotics, most of which currently block DNA assembly or protein assembly. Of course, this product still has to undergo human testing, but apparently looks promising."

Superbug vaccine...

[crazyjeremy]

For some reason when I read this I thought it said there was an Antibiotic for the MPAA Superbug (I know it doesn't quite make sense). Sheesh, what a let down. If there was a RIAA/MPAA vaccine, I bet someone could sell millions.

Oh well... I guess it's good that they may actually get some treatment options for this disease. It sounds horrible. According to http://citypaper.net/articles/2005-03-03/cb2.shtml [citypaper.net]

It usually first appears in a warm, moist section of the body, like an armpit or the crotch. Initially, it is a small, red bump, similar to a spider bite. Within days, it develops into a boil the size of a grapefruit with the potential to spread fatal poisons into the bloodstream. In other strains, it gradually eats away at a victim's flesh. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a highly contagious skin infection that is resistant to the most commonly used antibiotics.

So if some stranger in the supermarket asks you to look at their rash and wonders if it's contagious... don't hesitate to punch them. Or maybe you guys don't live in quite the redneck neighborhood that I do...

Travel Time

[Solokron]

Many flock to Africa to eat soil. Contract Malaria.

Re:Superbug vaccine...

[Anonymous Coward]

"So if some stranger in the supermarket asks you to look at their rash and wonders if it's contagious... don't hesitate to punch them. Or maybe you guys don't live in quite the redneck neighborhood that I do..."

Great idea...bad-mouth the redneck (in the area you choose to live in no less), then pull a redneck move and punch the offender, thus vastly increasing the chance of you picking said infection up (by your initial contact, and more likely with the resulting scuffle).

How about this--politely decline and walk away.

Re:"Scientific American" Reports on New Antibiotic

[Baddas]

What is not known is whether we can continuously develop new antibiotics that kill new antibiotic-resistant strains of germs and that will not kill human cells. As each successive generation of new antibiotics bombards the bacteria and as it adapts to the new medicines, will the bacteria become so powerful that it cannot be killed?

Simple: the bacteria will evolve into human cells. After all, if we can continue to make drugs which kill everything except human cells, they'll just have to evolve into human cells.

Re:MRSA treatment already exists

[martinX]

Or do you mean that the bacteria grow ears and kidneys? That would be sort of cool.

it's for this reason that it is known as "the mister potato head of the microbial world".

Re:No need.

[Anonymous Coward]

How did you spell "phosphodiesterase" correctly and fail at "Viagra"?

Re:A cure you say?

[Rand0m1]

While Vancomycin is a wonderful drug and quite successful against MRSA, it is not a panacea, nor applicable for all people. Just as some people are allergic to Penicillin, some are allergic to vanco and don't have the ability to partake in its protection.

For people with chronic lung disease, like cystic fibrosis [wikipedia.org], who experience repeated pneumonias and infection with the like of MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa [wikipedia.org], the addition of another antibiotic to the team of vanco and linezolid [wikipedia.org] can literally be a life saver.

Given the life and death reality of our reliance on antibiotics, I'd never classify any bacteria as "no problem." That perspective more than whispers at a superiority complex that could be demolished by the mutation of a tiny little bug. As for me, I'll continue to use them only when necessary and appropriate, and will always finish my prescription!

Re:No need.

[dan dan the dna man]

Clearly he was trying to get it past your spam filters.

So?

[RandomPrecision]

This isn't newsworthy to me. I don't get viruses - I use Linux.

*ducks*

Re:MRSA treatment already exists

[Tim C]

Believe me, I speak from experience - VISA can be a real killer. You should see my credit card balance...

Re:Another anti-MRSA agent: Mangosteen

[dr_dank]

Doing research on a fruit, called mangosteen

Genetic engineering has gone too far this time. What kind of sicko crossbred a mango with Bruce Springsteen?