AI-Driven Discovery of Abaucin: A Powerful Antibiotic

 

Latest Context

Recently, a remarkable feat in the field of medicine by using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to discover a powerful antibiotic called Abaucin capable of fighting Acinetobacter baumannii superbug was achieved by Scientists from the United States and Canada. This scientific breakthrough holds immense promise in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria.

Acinetobacter Baumannii

• As per World Health Organization (WHO), it is a very dangerous bacterium resistant to antibiotics. It may cause severe infections such as meningitis, pneumonia, and wound infections, and lead to fatalities. It is found in hospitals and can survive on surfaces for long periods making it very difficult to eradicate. It was recognised as a "red alert" human pathogen due to its remarkable capacity to develop resistance to all currently available antibiotics.

Antibiotic Resistance’s Occurrence

• As per WHO, Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change its response to the use of the medicine which ultimately can cause the medical treatment ineffective. Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections.
• Misuse and overuse of antibiotics fuel the rise of drug-resistant bacteria which poses a global health concern.
• Due to increasing anti-bacterial resistance, as WHO identifies, the lists infections like pneumonia, foodborne, and tuberculosis diseases becoming harder to treat with existing medication.

Key Facts: Superbugs are bacteria that are resistant to several types of antibiotics. Every year these bacteria cause infect more than two million people in the US and become the cause of death of approximately 23,000 as pointed out by        US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Abaucin:

• It causes disruption in the normal functioning of a protein called CCR2.
• It causes the disruption in lipoprotein trafficking in A. baumannii.
• According to experts, abaucin can prevent lipoprotein produced inside the bacteria from moving to the outer membrane.
•  By nature, it is “Species-selective”. It only disrupts the growth of A. baumannii, not others such as Gram-negative bacteria.

Mechanism of Action: By causing disruption in the normal functioning of the CCR2 protein in bacteria, it hinders the movement of certain molecules inside the bacteria, preventing them from reaching the outer membrane which results in the inhibition of the growth of Acinetobacter baumannii reducing its ability to cause infections.

Prelims

Q. Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India? (2019)

1. Genetic predisposition of some people

2. Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases

3. Using antibiotics in livestock farming

4. Multiple chronic diseases in some people

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4

(d) 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (b)

 

Mains

Q. Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without Doctor’s prescription, be contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved. (2014)

 

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