Australian Researchers Develop Immunotherapy for Drug-Resistant Bacteria

Researchers in Australia have developed a novel strategy to combat drug-resistant bacteria by targeting a unique sugar molecule, pseudaminic acid, found exclusively on bacterial cells. This approach uses laboratory-created antibodies to flag bacteria for destruction by the immune system, demonstrating successful elimination of fatal bacterial infections in mice. The research, co-led by Professor Richard Payne of the University of Sydney, Professor Ethan Goddard-Borger at WEHI, and Associate Professor Nicholas Scott from the University of Melbourne and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, focuses on developing 'pan-specific' antibodies capable of recognizing this sugar across various bacterial species. This breakthrough is particularly significant for multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, a critical threat in healthcare. The team aims to translate these findings into clinical antibody treatments, with funding from the Australia===National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia===Australian Research Council, United States===National Institutes of Health, WEHI, and the Australia===Victorian State Government.