Scientists have discovered a new class of antibiotic that is showing remarkable success against one of the world’s most dangerous drug-resistant bacteria.
Zosurabalpin defeated strains of Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (Crab) – a major cause of hospital infections, particularly in patients on ventilators – in mice.
The World Health Organisation classifies Crab as one of three category 1 critical pathogens, for which new antibiotics are urgently needed due to their extensive drug-resistance.
Dr Andrew Edwards, a senior lecturer in molecular microbiology at Imperial College London, who was not involved in the research, said the challenge presented by Crab was its resistance to multiple antibiotics, making it incredibly difficult to treat.
“Crab is a significant cause of infection in hospitals, particularly in people who are on ventilators,” he said.
“Unfortunately, development of new treatments against this bacterium has been extremely challenging because it is very adept at keeping antibiotics from getting past its outer cell layer.”
Zosurabalpin’s efficacy was demonstrated in mice against pneumonia and sepsis, and this success has sparked hope for the current human trials.
Dr Edwards said: “This work is really exciting, and provides confidence that the approaches being used to find new antibiotics can bear fruit.”
Gram-negative bacteria, like Crab, pose an urgent threat to human health.
They are protected by an outer shell containing lipopolysaccharide (LPS), explained Dr Michael Lobritz, global head of infectious diseases at Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, which developed Zosurabalpin.
“LPS allows bacteria to live in harsh environments, and it also allows them to evade attack by our immune system,” he said.
“This is the first time we’ve found anything that operates in this way, so it is unique in its chemical make-up and mechanism of action.”
A Roche representative told The National: “Without the ability to transport LPS the bacteria die. The new molecule overcomes the existing drug-resistance mechanisms that the currently available antibiotics are failing to address.”
No new antibiotic targeting Gram-negative bacteria has been approved in over 50 years, making Zosurabalpin’s discovery all the more crucial.
“Any new antibiotic class that has the ability to treat infections caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria such as Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (Crab) would be a significant breakthrough,” the Roche representative added.
“Zosurabalpin has many features that position it to be a medical breakthrough, and future human clinical trials will inform whether it has the potential to address a major gap in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
They added: “A range of phase 1 trials of Zosurabalpin in humans are currently ongoing. These studies aim to test safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (the concentration of zosurabalpin in the human body over time).”
Roche had initially identified Zosurabalpin as capable of inhibiting the growth of A. baumannii.
Prof Daniel Kahne at Harvard University and colleagues later revealed that the drug works by preventing LPS from reaching the bacterium's outer membrane, effectively killing it.
In mouse trials, Zosurabalpin significantly reduced bacterial levels and prevented death in cases of Crab-related sepsis.
While Dr Lobritz acknowledged that Zosurabalpin alone won’t solve the public health threat of antimicrobial-resistant infections, its unique chemical make-up and mechanism of action set a foundation for future drug development targeting similar transport systems in other bacteria.
In parallel, Dr Edwards said another antibiotic, murepavadin, targets LPS transport through a different mechanism.
“[Murepavadin] has been shown to be active against a bacterium called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, suggesting that it may be possible to expand this work to other multi-antibiotic resistant bacteria such as Klebsiella and E coli,” he said.
However, he cautioned about the challenges in transitioning new drugs from animal studies to human applications.
Amid these developments, the UK’s science, innovation, and technology committee has advocated exploring bacteriophages, viruses that kill bacteria, as an alternative to antibiotics for resistant infections.
What is antimicrobial resistance?
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when tiny organisms like bacteria, which can cause infections, learn to outsmart medicines such as antibiotics.
Normally, these antibiotics kill bacteria or stop their growth. But when bacteria become resistant, these antibiotics are no longer effective, making infections harder to treat.
Imagine bacteria as tiny invaders in your body; antibiotics are like a special force sent to defeat them.
But sometimes, these invaders adapt to survive these attacks, becoming “superbugs”.
These antibiotic-resistant superbugs turn treatable infections into serious health problems.
AMR gets worse due to misuse of these medicines
When antibiotics are overused or used incorrectly, it gives bacteria more chances to become resistant.
Poor practices in controlling infections, like not washing hands properly, also contribute to this problem.
Another concern is the use of antibiotics in animals, such as those raised for food.
If these animals carry resistant bacteria, they can pass them to humans, increasing the spread of AMR.
One of the biggest challenges is that there aren't many new antibiotics being developed. This means we're running out of effective tools to fight these resistant bacteria.
Experts warn that if we don’t tackle AMR, it could lead to more deaths each year than currently caused by cancer.
To prevent this, a co-ordinated effort is needed, involving not just humans but also the animal and environmental sectors.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
TEAMS
EUROPE:
Justin Rose, Francesco Molinari, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Alex Noren, Thorbjorn Olesen, Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson
USA:
Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Webb Simpson, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau ( 1 TBC)
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
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Breast cancer in men: the facts
1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.
2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash.
3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible.
4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key.
5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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October 9: v Sabah FA
