Russian scientists have discovered a new way to combat antibiotic-resistant staphylococci, which cause life-threatening infections, including skin lesions, pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. Scientists' campaign does not imply the search for new drugs, but the strengthening of existing ones.

According to a press release on the Russian Science Foundation's website, researchers have figured out how to increase the effectiveness of cephalosporins - β-lactam antibiotics, which are characterized by increased resistance to enzymes produced by bacteria (β-lactamases). These drugs attack the DNA of bacteria through oxidative stress, when oxygen radicals begin to oxidize important components of the microbial cell.

To do this, scientists influenced the DNA repair system, which is one of the levels of bacterial defense, using a special molecule. The low-molecular-weight compound blocked the activity of enzymes that protect bacterial DNA from antibiotic action. Together with the antibiotic, this compound forms a combination drug that is much more effective than the antibacterial drug alone.

Scientists believe that a similar approach can be applied to other bacterial infections, including tuberculosis. In the future, the researchers plan to select the most effective substances that enhance the effect of antibiotics. Similar compounds are already used to protect antibacterial drugs from degradation by microbial enzymes.