CHEMICAL BIOLOGY : An unfolding antibiotics story
Scientists have identified the way an unusual antibiotic works. Lactivicin and similar molecules are a class of antibiotics that are unique because they do not contain a beta-lactam ring. This is significant because antibiotic resistance is frequently tied to the beta-lactam rings of the more common antibiotics, like penicillin.
Now a team led by Christopher Schofield and colleagues specifically demonstrate that lactivicin is an effective antibiotic against penicillin-resistant bacteria isolated from human patients. In addition, the authors explain lactivicin’s unique behaviour by providing a crystal structure of the compound bound to its protein target, in which the two rings of the compound have been opened. This discovery will undoubtedly lead to the design of new effective antibiotics that can be applied to resistant bacteria.

Author contact:

Christopher Schofield (Chemistry Research Laboratory, Oxford, UK)
Tel: +44 1865 275 625, Email: christopher.schofield@chem.ox.ac.uk