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Scientists at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet have unveiled promising results from a study that could pave the way for new treatments against antibiotic-resistant infections, Swedish broadcaster SVT reported.
In laboratory experiments, researchers paired conventional antibiotics with an enzyme known as endolysin to fight penicillin-resistant pneumococcal bacteria.
The treated mice, which had developed bacterial meningitis, recovered fully and showed no lingering symptoms, according to the study.
“The animals that received the treatment survived without any symptoms – it felt absolutely fantastic,” said Federico Iovino, associate professor of medical microbiology at Karolinska Institutet.
Pneumococcal bacteria are a major cause of illnesses such as pneumonia and meningitis. These conditions can become fatal within days if untreated.
Iovino warned that antibiotic resistance is increasing worldwide and could become the leading cause of death within 20 to 30 years, surpassing cancer.
Endolysin originates from bacteriophages — viruses that specifically attack bacteria — and works by breaking down bacterial cell walls.
In this study, the enzyme restored the effectiveness of antibiotics against resistant strains and was able to cross into the brain within hours.
This rapid access to the brain is considered essential for treating meningitis, which can cause severe neurological damage or death if not addressed within 48 hours.
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