Antibiotic-destroying genes widespread in bacteria in soil and on people

(Washington University School of Medicine) Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have found that genes that confer the power to destroy tetracycline antibiotics are widespread in bacteria. But the researchers have also created a chemical compound that shields tetracyclines from destruction, restoring the antibiotics lethality. The findings indicate an emerging threat to one of the most widely used classes of antibiotics -- but also a promising way to protect against that threat.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news