IIT Roorkee discovers new antibacterial molecule

The novel antibacterial molecule, IITR00693, not only strikes down the most stubborn bacteria but also prevents the emergence of resistance, ensuring that it remains effective for generations to come. 

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee discovered a new antibacterial small molecule (IITR00693) that could help the fight against drug-resistant infections. The research was led by Prof Ranjana Pathania, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Roorkee. 

The molecule, discovered after a rigorous screening process, has shown potent antibacterial activity against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including some of the most problematic drug-resistant strains.  

With many bacterial infections becoming resistant to existing treatments, the discovery of this new molecule offers the potential for more effective and targeted therapies. IITR00693 acts like a dual sword; it not only strikes down the most stubborn bacteria but also prevents the emergence of resistance, ensuring that it remains effective for generations to come. 

The rise of antibiotic resistance among skin-infecting pathogens poses an urgent threat to public health and has fuelled the search for new therapies. Enhancing the potency of currently used antibiotics is an alternative for the treatment of infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens.  

IITR00693 potentiates the activity of polymyxins against two notorious multidrug-resistant skin-infecting pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, providing a crucial leg up in the ongoing battle against deadly superbugs.  The combination has a novel dual mode of action that de-energises the bacterial cells and obliterates their membrane. The combination shows a very low propensity for resistance development, which is a major concern with many antibiotics on the market today. 

IIT Roorkee Director Prof KK Pant said, “We are now working to further develop the molecule into a viable therapeutic agent that can be tested in clinical trials. This is an important step in the development of new antibiotics, as it will allow for the evaluation of the molecule’s safety, efficacy, and potential side effects in soft and skin tissue infections.” 

Prof Ranjana Pathania, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Roorkee, said, “We aimed to identify a small molecule that can potentiate currently used antibiotics. IITR00693, a novel antibacterial small molecule, potentiates the antibacterial activity of polymyxin B against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Herein, we investigated in detail the mode of action of this interaction and the molecule’s capability to combat soft-tissue infections caused by Saureus and Paeruginosa.” 

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