- Antibiotic resistance is a major global health crisis, in the UK there were an estimated 66,730 serious antibiotic resistant infections in 2023.
- Atomic detail of a unique bacteriophage (phage) able to infect the severe diarrhoea causing C. Difficile (C.diff) revealed for the first time
- Findings can lead to the development of new phage-based therapies for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
New insights into a ‘friendly virus’ that could pave the way for cutting edge treatments for the potentially fatal superbug C.diff have been uncovered by University of Sheffield scientists.
The scientists have discovered how a spider-like virus can break through the armour of C.diff to infect the superbug which is known to rapidly evolve resistance to antibiotics. The friendly viruses, known as bacteriophages (phages), are viruses that selectively target and kill their host bacteria, playing a crucial role regulating bacterial populations and influencing microbial ecosystems.
As such, phage therapy has an enormous potential as an alternative treatment for antibiotic resistant bacteria. The discovery is the next step in research that demonstrates how the bacteria is able to develop a resistance to the frontline drug used for treatment in the UK.
Using the University’s own high resolution electron microscope, the team were able to study the phage in atomic detail for the first time. They found that the phage acts like a tiny syringe and that this syringe has a more compact needle tip and reduced contraction compared with all other phages studied to date - features that look to be uniquely suited to infect C.diff.
Phages are not currently approved medicines in most countries, however, this research strengthens the argument that these fascinating molecular machines can become successful in treating antibiotic resistant bacterial infections.
A report from the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, published in November 2023, highlighted the possibilities of using phages more widely to treat drug-resistant bacterial infections and it is hoped that this research will lead to the development of new phage-based therapies.
Phages hold great promise for use as novel antibiotics, and form part of a rapidly growing area of research. Until now, we have not had a detailed picture of a phage that infects tough, armoured bacteria like C. difficile. We are very happy to have been able to provide this level of detail, and this work will allow us to develop the application of these phages in the future.
Dr. Jason Wilson
School of Biosciences, lead author
The paper is published in Life Science Alliance Journal