Molecular machine drills holes in antibiotic-resistant bacteria killing them

Light-activated molecular machines have been created that act as a broad-spectrum ‘antibiotic’ to mechanically damage bacterial cell membranes. Although this research is currently at an early pre-clinical stage, initial in vivo studies are encouraging.

Antibiotics revolutionised medicine following their discovery in the 20th century, but years of misuse now mean that antibiotic resistance is one of the major challenges facing humanity. ‘Although well over 100 antibiotics are available, a person can die today from a bacterial infection that could have been treated by antibiotics in the past,’ explains Ana Santos from IdISBA-Fundación de Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas Baleares in Spain.