“Programmable” antibiotic uses enzyme to attack drug-resistant microbes

Karthik Kuchimanchi
Source: The Rockefeller University
Published: Oct. 5 2014
Link: http://newswire.rockefeller.edu/2014/10/05/programmable-antibiotic-harnesses-an-enzyme-to-attack-drug-resistant-microbes/



Summary: Researchers in Rockefeller University have recently found a  new way to eradicate microbes that cause viruses, especially ones found in the liver. The bacterial enzyme Cas9 is the key here. This enzyme can reduce the risk of C. diff, a severe infection of the colon, caused by the Clostridium difficile bacterium. This is a severe infection that usually sends people to the hospital and puts them on harsh antibiotic treatments. The microbe is well-known for its immunity to most standard type of antibiotics, so this new alternative treatment is revolutionary. This technique of using Cas9 is also beneficial because this way is known for not damaging other innocent microbes that coexist with C. diff. The Cas9 is programmable, meaning that the scientists have a way of controlling what Cas9 does to some degree. The results are astounding,  though this way of treating the microbe still needs development and the scientists will continue to improve their program and treatment


Connection: This article relates to our study of macro molecules, but in particular proteins. More specially, this connects to our topic of enzymes. In class we know that enzymes are proteins that break down certain molecules and are characterized as catalysts. Catalysts speed up a reaction with less activation energy. When we think of enzymes We usually think of saliva, which has the enzyme amylase or  stomach acid, which breaks down food, like pepsin. This article shows that different enzymes can make a bigger impact and even can kill certain microbes that contain harmful bacteria. Furthermore this article teaches us that enzymes serve many purposes then ones we learned in class, which were only some of the examples. Also, this article briefly references the scientific method, which was something we went over in class as well. In this experiment, there were many recorded observations and then a conclusion was made after them. This is key in a successful experiment.