One of the major concerns within healthcare today is the
growing antimicrobial resistance. Researchers across the board have been
searching for a way to combat this resistance and new research shows that the
answer may lie in antimicrobial lipopeptides (AMLP). In simulations AMLP’s the
lipid portion binds the mammal-like (zwitterion) cells, but show more
preference to the selective binding of the peptide portion to bacteria-like (anionic)
cells. Further research demonstrated when multiple AMLP’s are introduced to a
system micelles form and yield similar results with preference to anionic cell
binding. The preference toward bacteria-like binding lies in the thermodynamics
of the micelle or monomer, and if these conditions can be optimized the use of
AMLP’s will likely become the solution to antimicrobial resistance.
The studies performed by Lin and Grossfield demonstrate AMLP’s
preferential binding to the anionic, bacteria-like cells. This information
could lead to the use of these antimicrobial lipopeptides to specifically
target different microbes instead of using the standard regimen that is leading
to resistance. Although there will be more studies to follow this is a
promising step in the right direction to combat this growing issue.
Source: Bereau, Tristan. "Better Together: Lipopeptide Micelle Formation Enhances Antimicrobial Selectivity." Biophysical Journal 109.4 (2015): 668-69. Web.
Link to Article: http://www.cell.com/biophysj/pdf/S0006-3495(15)00718-3.pdf
I think this article is a remarkable example of the complexities of antibiotic resistance. On one hand, I think it's extremely interesting how this article proposes the use of complex biochemistry and thermodynamics to create/show preferential binding to anionic bacterial membranes. Clearly, new advancements in biochemistry will be essential to combating microbial resistance, and it will take a significant amount of work to continue advancing biochemistry research at rates similar to bacterial evolution. However, even more importantly to me is the fact that the use of AMLPs could be evolutionarily conserved, giving us an upper hand on the ever unfolding evolutionary battle between bacteria. Our widespread use of antibiotics has accelerated the evolutionary resistance of microbes at alarming rates, therefore as this article shows, the focus is shifting on treatments that are immune to evolution and/or may co-evolve with bacteria, such as bacteriophage as well. I guess my question would be I wonder which style of treatment will be better, one that may appear to be evolutionarily conserved at this time, or one that may co-evolve with bacteria. Either way, what a great example of advancement in this important field!
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