2 April 2009

Research to develop a narrow-spectrum antibiotic that can target a particular species of bacteria without harming the other "good" bacteria present was described at the Society for General Microbiology meeting at Harrogate today (Thursday April 2).

Professor Kim Brogden from the University of Iowa attached a broad-spectrum antibiotic to a protein that targets a receptor on a particular bacterium's surface. When this newly-formed narrow-spectrum antibiotic was tested on a mix of bacteria that included the target organism, Porphyromonas gingivalis, a cause of gum disease, low concentrations of the antibiotic killed the P. gingivalis bacteria but left the other two bacterial species in the mix untouched.

Antibiotics have clear clinical benefits in treating oral infections like gum (periodontal) disease. This therapy reduces the number of harmful bacteria in patients who have received non-surgical and surgical treatments. Hard and soft tissue damage is much less in patients who have received antibiotics than in patients who have not received these drugs. Unfortunately, complications are associated with antibiotic use. Side effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea, allergic skin rashes and fever can be caused by penicillin and related drugs. Overuse of antibiotics leads to the development of drug-resistant bacteria. And antibiotics can kill the normal bacterial population of the mouth, urogenital tract, and gastrointestinal tract. This can lead to infections by opportunistic Candida albicans yeast in the mouth and urogenital tract or the bacterium Clostridium difficile in the gastrointestinal tract.

'A targeted approach is needed to kill specific disease-causing bacteria in complex environments', said Professor Brogden. 'We are developing an antibiotic that can target and kill a particular pathogen without harming or altering the composition of the normal, more beneficial bacteria in the body. Such a product would provide a variety of new treatments for oral diseases as well as a means of prevention'.

Notes for Editors

Media Release HA20/02/brogden

1. The paper 'Targeted activity of antimicrobial peptide-carrier conjugates in artificial microbial communities' by Kim A. Brogden was presented on Thursday 2 April at the Society for General Microbiology Spring Meeting at Harrogate International Centre. Transcripts are not available; for further information please contact Dianne Stilwell, SGM media consultant. Tel +44 (0)20 8977 6510, Mob +44(0)20 7957 200214, e-mail d.stilwell@sgm.ac.uk

2. Professor Kim A. Brogden, Department of Periodontics and Dows Institute for Dental Research, N447 DSB, College of Dentistry, 801 Newton Road, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. Tel +1 319 335-8077, e-mail kim-brogden@uiowa.edu

3. Legacy of Fleming - diagnosing, controlling, preventing and treating infectious diseases in the modern world was the Society for General Microbiology's spring conference at Harrogate International Centre on March 30 - 2 April 2009. Other media releases related to the conference can be obtained from AlphaGalileo (www.alphagalileo.org) or from Dianne Stilwell on +44 (0)7957 200214, d.stilwell@sgm.ac.uk. For more information see www.sgmharrogate2009.org.uk.

4. The Society for General Microbiology is the largest microbiology society in Europe, and has over 5,500 members worldwide. The Society provides a common meeting ground for scientists working in research and fields with applications in microbiology including veterinary medicine, pharmaceuticals, industry, agriculture, food, the environment and education.

5. The Society publishes four distinguished journals of international repute: International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, Journal of General Virology, Microbiology and Journal of Medical Microbiology (all monthly). The journals contain high-quality research papers and topical review articles. The online versions are published with the assistance of HighWire Press, with many added features and functions to aid the reader, and can be accessed via www.sgm.ac.uk/pubs