Researchers identify protein mutation driving antibiotic resistance

Scientists from CONICET and United States collaborators have identified a specific mechanism that enhances bacterial resistance to certain therapies. The study, published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, focuses on a small amino acid change in the β-lactamase enzyme known as PER-14.

Compared to the more prevalent PER-2 enzyme found in certain bacteria in Argentina, this single mutation makes modern clinical inhibitors, such as avibactam and relebactam, significantly less effective at blocking the enzyme. This discovery provides critical data for developing new therapeutic strategies to combat evolving pathogens.

This research occurs amid global warnings regarding antimicrobial resistance. Experts suggest that if current trends of antibiotic overuse continue, the world could face a crisis by 2050 where existing first-line treatments are no longer effective. To address this, researchers are increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence to analyze millions of compounds to identify new antibiotic molecules capable of overcoming bacterial evolution.