American scientists have discovered a new method to enhance the effect of antibiotics

This method of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University is able to cure even the most antibiotic resistant bacterial infections, Xinhua reports. In particular, the scientists were interested in increasing the sensitivity of pathogens to quinolones (antibiotics are often used to treat infections caused by Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus).

Quinolones act by interfering with the work of bacterial enzymes known as topoisomerases helping to restore and replicate DNA. Scientists have tried to add a molecule - the final electron acceptor. It promotes cellular respiration so that bacteria extract energy from sugar.

Tests on bacterial colonies of high density were carried out. It turned out that quinolones along with sugar and fumaric acid can affect several types of bacteria, including those that cause tuberculosis. This combination made quinolone powerful enough to destroy a stable pathogen.

Source: Xinhua.