Antibiotics are Obsolete -- Learning How to Fight Bacteria with Sustainable Solutions
An Investigation Into the Effectiveness of the Bacteriocin Nisin Against Gram-Negative Pathogens
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Antibiotics remain our primary treatment option for many bacterial infections. However, our overuse of these lifesaving drugs has created intense selective pressures for the emergence of antibiotic-resistant, and multi-drug resistant, pathogens. The result is that antibiotic resistance is predicted to be the greatest human health challenge by 2050. An alternative is needed, and fast. Bacteriocins stand as one of the most promising options to take up this mantle, and the bacteriocin nisin has already shown promising results against gram-positive bacteria. However, its effectiveness against gram-negative bacteria remains almost completely unknown due to preconceived notions. In this study, we examine why this is the case, why antibiotic resistance is such a pressing issue, and what the Riley lab is doing to address this.
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