New Antibiotics Could Come From DNA Binding Compound That Kills Bacteria In 2 Minutes

**Prince** · 06-10-2009, 10:02 AM

New Antibiotics Could Come From A DNA Binding Compound That Kills Bacteria In 2 Minutes

ScienceDaily (June 9, 2009) — A synthetic DNA binding compound has proved surprisingly effective at binding to the DNA of bacteria and killing all the bacteria it touched within two minutes. The DNA binding properties of the compound were first discovered in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick by Professor Mike Hannon and Professor Alison Rodger (Professor Mike Hannon is now at the University of Birmingham). However the strength of its antibiotic powers have now made it a compound of high interest for University of Warwick researchers working on the development of novel antibiotics.

Dr Adair Richards from the University of Warwick said: "This research will assist the design of new compounds that can attack bacteria in a highly effective way which gets around the methods bacteria have developed to resist our current antibacterial drugs. As this antibiotic compound operates by targeting DNA, it should avoid all current resistance mechanisms of multi-resistant bacteria such as MRSA."

The compound [Fe2L3]4+ is an iron triple helicate with three organic strands wrapped around two iron centres to give a helix which looks cylindrical in shape and neatly fits within the major groove of a DNA helix. It is about the same size as the parts of a protein that recognise and bind with particular sequences of DNA. The high positive charge of the compound enhances its ability to bind to DNA which is negatively charged.

When the iron-helicate binds to the major groove of DNA it coils the DNA so that it is no longer available to bind to anything else and is not able to drive biological or chemical processes. Initially the researchers focused on the application of this useful property for targeting the DNA of cancer cells as it could bind to, coil up and shut down the cancer cell's DNA either killing the cell or stopping it replicate. However the team quickly realised that it might also be a very clever way of targeting drug-resistant bacteria.

New research at the University of Warwick, led by Dr Adair Richards and Dr Albert Bolhuis, has now found that the [Fe2L3]4+ does indeed have a powerful effect on bacteria. When introduced to two test bacteria Bacillus subtilis and E. coli they found that it quickly bound to the bacteria's DNA and killed virtually every cell within two minutes of being introduced - though the concentration required for this is high.

Professor Alison Rodger, Professor of Biophysical Chemistry at the University of Warwick, said: "We were surprised at how quickly this compound killed bacteria and these results make this compound a key lead compound for researchers working on the development of novel antibiotics to target drug resistant bacteria."

The researchers will next try and understand how and why the compound can cross the bacteria cell wall and membranes. They plan to test a wide range of compounds to look for relatives of the iron helicate that have the same mechanism for action in collaboration with researchers around the world.

Journal reference:

1. Richards et al. Antimicrobial activity of an iron triple helicate. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 2009; 33 (5): 469 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2008.10.031

Adapted from materials provided by University of Warwick.

source

**sshamm_bone_1** · 06-10-2009, 04:36 PM

Thats freaking awesome.....but what else is this stuff going to kill in my body in 2 minutes?

**min0 lee** · 06-10-2009, 06:01 PM

Hopefully the VD I gave you.

**sshamm_bone_1** · 06-10-2009, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Hopefully the VD I gave you.

I thought that was just a rash from from too much masterbation.

**bandaidwoman** · 06-11-2009, 06:52 AM

Off topic but It's interesting that many of the naysayers against universal health care always ( erroneously) cite the fact that avante garde, medical research just doesn't come from counteries that have them...., canada spanks our but in robotic surgeries, heck 3tc, aids drug invented in canada etc.

This is one of many example that show that top of the line medical research is possible in a system with universal access to health care.

**tucker01** · 06-11-2009, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by bandaidwoman

Off topic but It's interesting that many of the naysayers against universal health care always ( erroneously) cite the fact that avante garde, medical research just doesn't come from counteries that have them...., canada spanks our but in robotic surgeries, heck 3tc, aids drug invented in canada etc.

This is one of many example that show that top of the line medical research is possible in a system with universal access to health care.

It may be, but try getting access to it, let alone any significant treatment in a speedy time period. Heck I just booked a physical with my family doctor the other month, earliest appointment October. It took over 6 months to get an MRI on my Shoulder, and another year(only because of a cancellation) to get surgery.

**bandaidwoman** · 06-11-2009, 07:26 AM

there is shortage of generalists like fp, gp and internal medicine because the current free market system rewards specialists . Our system is also broken, the ratio of patients to physicians in most universal health care models is 5,000 to one. Here in georgia there is such a severe shortage i have 15,000 patients. My partners each have a active patient base of 7,500. It takes 10 months to see me. essentially, your wait time is really no less and probably more than some of these countries.

**ZECH** · 06-11-2009, 08:11 AM

Wow.......

**bandaidwoman** · 06-11-2009, 08:30 AM

Physicians for a National Health Program - Health Care is a Human Right

JAMA had an article that showed a majority of us, including surgeons favor a national plan contrary to urban myth. this link provides the quick synopsis

Majority Of US Physicians Favor National Health Insurance

The bureaucracy of the private plans are amazing, we have four docs but 20 non medical employees ( coder for insurances, collections, precertifications, pre authorizations, etc.) I have one person handeling medicare and almost dozen with full pay, medical insurance, 401, workman's comp handeling the private insurers.....

Frankly, the drug companies are mostly doing research in copy cat drugs so they can make the quick turnaround profits, ( prilosec--nexium, celexa----lexapro etc which are only left handed isomers.) not like research supported by the NIH which are really trying to find novel ways of curing cancer etc

**min0 lee** · 06-11-2009, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by bandaidwoman

Off topic but It's interesting that many of the naysayers against universal health care always ( erroneously) cite the fact that avante garde, medical research just doesn't come from counteries that have them...., canada spanks our but in robotic surgeries, heck 3tc, aids drug invented in canada etc.

This is one of many example that show that top of the line medical research is possible in a system with universal access to health care.

It seems like all they care about is your money here in America, they would rather shove harmful medication on you and not really cure you.

When I had co-pay they would have me go there constantly for nothing.....all they wanted was the co-pay.
All they did was take mt blood pressure...

**bandaidwoman** · 06-12-2009, 05:10 AM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

It seems like all they care about is your money here in America, they would rather shove harmful medication on you and not really cure you.

When I had co-pay they would have me go there constantly for nothing.....all they wanted was the co-pay.
All they did was take mt blood pressure...

Actually, by law we have to take your copay, we get penalized if we don't. I have tried to wave copays for my financially strapped etc and it is considered insurance fraud...... ( so I was fined) when the insurance company auditted me

Now remember something like high blood pressure is tricky, I have supreme athletes who follow the DASH diet to a tee and still need bp meds.I have had many athletes, especially body builders with uncontrolled bp get strokes because they refuse the bp meds.....that is always very tragic for me. Most docs really try life style modification but may have given up due to the fact that most americans want the simple little pill! If your doc and you don't see eye to eye ,find another one, most of mine gravitate towards me because they know I am an athlete myself and know the value of good diet and excercise....try to find one that lives what he or she preaches....

Also, don't forget, when I spend 30 minutes counseling a patient on how to lose weight, get their diabetes under control etc, i get paid less than doing a 5 minute shave biopsey for a simple skin tag, the current system does not reward that patient interaction and teaching, it only rewards procedures....there is a good internal medine blog site DB medical Rants ( if you want to see how us docs really think) that discusses this all the time. In the socialized health care system, patients are encouraged to see dieticians, lose weight , excercise etc.

For the record national health insurance in this country won't mean socialized medicine. Socialized medicine is the way health care is delivered ( access restriction, limited assignment that is the VA system in this country). National health care changes the payment system. Look at medicare, it is national health insurance for the elderly, they can see any doc they want, they can get any procedure I order for them, they can go to any specialist... see the difference? Taiwan is a good example of a pure national health care system.

**min0 lee** · 06-12-2009, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by bandaidwoman

If your doc and you don't see eye to eye ,find another one, most of mine gravitate towards me because they know I am an athlete myself and know the value of good diet and excercise....try to find one that lives what he or she preaches....

I got lucky and switched to a Doctor who prefers I stay away from "simple little pill", she has a bit of a hippie in her which is cool.

**Hoglander** · 06-14-2009, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by bandaidwoman

Actually, by law we have to take your copay, we get penalized if we don't. I have tried to wave copays for my financially strapped etc and it is considered insurance fraud...... ( so I was fined) when the insurance company auditted me

Now remember something like high blood pressure is tricky, I have supreme athletes who follow the DASH diet to a tee and still need bp meds.I have had many athletes, especially body builders with uncontrolled bp get strokes because they refuse the bp meds.....that is always very tragic for me. Most docs really try life style modification but may have given up due to the fact that most americans want the simple little pill! If your doc and you don't see eye to eye ,find another one, most of mine gravitate towards me because they know I am an athlete myself and know the value of good diet and excercise....try to find one that lives what he or she preaches....

Also, don't forget, when I spend 30 minutes counseling a patient on how to lose weight, get their diabetes under control etc, i get paid less than doing a 5 minute shave biopsey for a simple skin tag, the current system does not reward that patient interaction and teaching, it only rewards procedures....there is a good internal medine blog site DB medical Rants ( if you want to see how us docs really think) that discusses this all the time. In the socialized health care system, patients are encouraged to see dieticians, lose weight , excercise etc.

For the record national health insurance in this country won't mean socialized medicine. Socialized medicine is the way health care is delivered ( access restriction, limited assignment that is the VA system in this country). National health care changes the payment system. Look at medicare, it is national health insurance for the elderly, they can see any doc they want, they can get any procedure I order for them, they can go to any specialist... see the difference? Taiwan is a good example of a pure national health care system.

"..In the socialized health care system, patients are encouraged to see dieticians, lose weight , excercise etc..."

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