Gold: A New Hope for Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Treatment, Say Scientists

A new study presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases by a group of researchers from Spain shows how gold can help with antibiotic resistance, as reported by Interesting Engineering.

Gold has antibiotic properties, and the researchers made several new compounds with a gold ion as its foundation. They found that all 19 of the tested ones were effective against at least one bacteria that have proven resistant to modern antibiotics.

Gold-Based Antibiotics

All the gold compounds they tested were effective against at least one bacterial species they studied, while some showed potent activity against several multi-drug-resistant bacteria. The bacteria they studied are one of the most concerning pathogens in the world, making the growing antibiotic resistance alarming today.

The new findings come at the right time. These gold atoms contain exciting properties that can fight against germs. Gold has different ways to stop bacteria in its tracks, which means that if a strategy doesn't kill an embryo, the odds are good that it has another mechanism that will kill the bacteria.

It can disrupt the bacteria's integrity or attack the bacteria's DNA or enzymes needed to survive. In addition, gold is biologically inert for humans, so the safety of gold-based medicine is likely high.

As Turkey's Inflation Spirals, Gold Continues To Gain Popularity

(Photo : by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 06: A gold bar is cooled after being smelted from recycled gold jewelry in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, on October 06, 2022 in Istanbul, Turkey.

How Bacteria Evade Antibiotic?

Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem in modern medicine as bacteria evolve and develop new ways to evade the drugs used to treat them. Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics in some ways, including mutation, gene transfer, and biofilm formation.

One of the most common ways that bacteria become resistant is through mutation. Bacteria reproduce rapidly and are prone to genetic mutations. If a mutation occurs in a gene targeted by an antibiotic, the bacteria may become resistant to that drug. This is why it is important to use antibiotics only when necessary, as overuse can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains.

Another way bacteria can become resistant is by transferring antibiotic-resistance genes between different bacteria. This can occur through a process called horizontal gene transfer, which involves the transfer of genetic material between bacteria. This can happen naturally or be facilitated by factors such as plasmids, which are small, circular pieces of DNA that can be easily transferred between bacteria.

Bacteria can also evade antibiotics by forming biofilms. Biofilms are communities of bacteria that are encased in a protective matrix of extracellular polymeric substances. This matrix can make it difficult for antibiotics to penetrate and kill the bacteria within the biofilm.

Overall, the ability of bacteria to adapt and evolve in the face of antibiotic treatment is a significant challenge for modern medicine. To combat this problem, it is important to use antibiotics judiciously and to develop new treatments and strategies for preventing and treating antibiotic-resistant infections.

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