Genentech... borrowed a concept used in cancer treatment, in which an antibody — a protein designed to attach to particular cells — is connected to a cancer-fighting drug.
Sanjeev Mariathasan, an immunologist at Genentech, and a large team of co-workers adapted this strategy — which they tested in mouse cells — by gluing an antibody against Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) bacteria to an antibiotic, a modified version of the drug rifampin, which is used to treat tuberculosis
They start with two ineffective drugs, an antibody that needs to be used in very localised locations to work (like inside a cell), and an antibiotic that can bind to the bacteria in any location in the body but is not effective at killing the bacteria by itself.
They glue these two together in a way that still enables the antibiotic to bind to the bacteria and travel along with it wherever it goes. Once the entire group enters a cell, enzymes within the cell break the connection between antibiotic and antibody, releasing the antibody into an environment that it is effective within.
Extremely interesting stuff, hopefully they have success applying it to the relevant cells etc in humans.
Figure 2f and "Extended Data" figure 3a show dose responses to the Rifampicin and Rifalogue antibiotics. These are INSANELY steep dose response curves. Can anyone explain what the mechanism of these compounds is supposed to be?
Bacterial infections are broadly categorized into two classifications based on their cell wall, Gram Positive and Gram Negative. Very generally, if you know what type of infection you're treating (Gram+ or Gram-), you can prescribe a class of antibiotics that works on that type of bacteria. In this broad classification, Staph and TB can be treated with similar drugs.
More specifically the drug in question, Rifampin, targets a specific RNA binding site that both Staph and TB use to replicate themselves. By inhibiting this binding site, the bacteria stop reproducing and your immune system can fight off the infection.
Genentech... borrowed a concept used in cancer treatment, in which an antibody — a protein designed to attach to particular cells — is connected to a cancer-fighting drug.
Sanjeev Mariathasan, an immunologist at Genentech, and a large team of co-workers adapted this strategy — which they tested in mouse cells — by gluing an antibody against Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) bacteria to an antibiotic, a modified version of the drug rifampin, which is used to treat tuberculosis
They start with two ineffective drugs, an antibody that needs to be used in very localised locations to work (like inside a cell), and an antibiotic that can bind to the bacteria in any location in the body but is not effective at killing the bacteria by itself.
They glue these two together in a way that still enables the antibiotic to bind to the bacteria and travel along with it wherever it goes. Once the entire group enters a cell, enzymes within the cell break the connection between antibiotic and antibody, releasing the antibody into an environment that it is effective within.
Extremely interesting stuff, hopefully they have success applying it to the relevant cells etc in humans.