This new antibiotic makes bacterial resistance nearly impossible

Macrolones, a new class of antibiotics, promise to revolutionize the fight against infections. Their secret? An almost unbeatable double attack on bacteria.


The University of Illinois at Chicago has developed macrolones, antibiotics that disrupt two cellular mechanisms in bacteria. According to researchers, this dual action makes bacterial resistance nearly impossible.

Published in Nature Chemical Biology, the study shows that macrolones act by interfering with protein production and corrupting DNA structure. This double attack forces bacteria to develop defenses against two mechanisms simultaneously.

Alexander Mankin, professor of pharmaceutical sciences at UIC, explains that the antibiotic targets two key elements of bacteria, making resistance through random mutations unlikely. Macrolones combine the structures of two commonly used antibiotics: macrolides and fluoroquinolones.

The laboratories of Yury Polikanov and Mankin at UIC have studied how these macrolones bind to ribosomes and inhibit DNA gyrase enzymes. Polikanov indicates that macrolones bind more firmly to ribosomes than traditional macrolides, even those resistant to macrolides.

By testing different doses, the researchers identified a compound capable of inhibiting both ribosomes and DNA gyrase. This makes the creation of a genetic defense by bacteria virtually impossible, according to Polikanov.

The study highlights the interdisciplinary collaboration within UIC, where researchers from various departments work together for fundamental scientific discoveries. According to Mankin, the goal is to optimize these macrolones to effectively target the two bacterial mechanisms.