Scientists could fight antibiotic-resistance after giving existing drug ‘superpowers’

SCIENTISTS believe they can hold off the threat of antibiotic-resistance after finding a way to give an existing drug new “superpowers”.

The modified version of Vancomycin now works against bacteria in three different ways, making it much harder for the germs to develop resistance.

The changes have also resulted in a 1,000-fold increase in the antibiotic’s activity, meaning medics can use less of it.

The World Health Organisation has warned antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to health and security.

Failing to solve the problem will result in 10million deaths each year by 2050 and cost the world over £66trillion in lost output, it is claimed.

Bacteria are only just becoming resistant to the unmodified version of Vancomycin, which has been prescribed by doctors for 60 years.

It works by disrupting the way bacteria form cell walls.

Study leader Prof Dale Boger, of California’s Scripps Research Institute, said Vancomycin’s proven strength against infections is “magical”.

He added: “Doctors could use this modified form without fear of resistance emerging. This increases this antibiotic’s durability.

“Organisms can’t work to find a way around three mechanisms.”

The modified drug successfully killed Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci — identified by the WHO as one of the bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health.

The next step is to find an easier way to create modified Vancomycin in the lab, as the current method takes 30 steps.