**Salmonella Bacteria Antibiotic Resistance Secret Revealed**
*New Drug Development Targeting Antibiotic and Anti-Cancer Drug Resistance Expected*
Researchers at the National Cancer Center have uncovered the secret behind how Salmonella bacteria survive antibiotics, providing a clue to solving antibiotic resistance issues. This research is expected to be instrumental in overcoming drug resistance in anti-cancer treatment and in the development of new drugs.
Researcher Jang Seok-won from the Bioinformatics Research Department at the National Cancer Center, in collaboration with Dr. Eun Hyeong-jong from Seoul National University and Professor Lee Bong-jin from Ajou University, announced on the 16th that they have determined the three-dimensional structure of the toxin-antitoxin protein complex (ResTA) within Salmonella. Their findings revealed that this protein plays a crucial role in maintaining antibiotic resistance.
By analyzing the structure of the ResTA complex using X-ray crystallography, the team confirmed that the ResT toxin protein is a key factor in forming persistent strains, allowing the bacteria to switch into a survival mode when exposed to antibiotics. Notably, in bacteria with hyperactivated ResT proteins, there was an abnormal accumulation of the cellular energy molecule ATP, enabling the bacteria to withstand and survive antibiotic attacks.
Through this discovery, the researchers have structurally demonstrated for the first time that Salmonella can evade antibiotics without genetic mutation, paving the way for new strategies to suppress persistent bacterial strains and prevent reinfections.
Unlike antibiotic-resistant bacteria, persistent strains can endure drugs without gene changes and remain in the body post-treatment, potentially causing reinfections or turning into resistant strains. In clinical settings, Salmonella has been a major cause of antibiotic treatment failures due to its ability to readily form persistent strains in harsh environments such as nutrient deprivation or oxidative stress.
Researcher Jang stated, “This study elucidates at a molecular level the mechanism by which ResT proteins help bacteria survive through energy accumulation within cells.” He added, “The findings can be widely applied not only in antibiotic resistance research but also in the study of anti-cancer drug resistance and the development of new drugs.”