Vitamin mimic could treat golden staph

A University of Adelaide researcher has discovered a new class of vitamin-like molecules that can be used to treat life-threatening golden staph — a dangerous bacteria that is resistant to many common antibiotics.

Ashleigh Paparella has discovered a new class of antibiotics that stops golden staph in its tracks by preventing its use of vitamin B7. She presented her research last year at Fresh Science South Australia 2015, a national program that helps early-career researchers find and share their stories of discovery.

Normally, golden staph picks up vitamin B7 from its environment and uses it as a co-factor to create energy for growth and metabolism. Paparella found that her antibiotic — which is a vitamin B7 mimic — prevents the normal activity of B7 through blocking the activity of an enzyme called BPL.

Ashleigh Paparella in the lab.

“We’ve also tested to show that our B7 mimic does not block BPL in human cells, so it is safe to use,” Paparella said.

As the studies have only been conducted in cultured cells so far, Paparella is now measuring the capacity of the B7 mimic to treat real-life infections. She hopes her research will help tackle the important issue of antibiotic resistance.

Top image caption: Protein with vitamin B7.