A South Korean biotech company on Monday said it has succeeded in decoding the structure of a virulent antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a feat that could open new horizons for medical treatment.
Seoul-based Crystalgenomics Inc. said it has deciphered the physical structure of antibiotic-resistant carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, or new variant New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1), that poses serious human health threats.
NDM-1 is a "superbug" that cannot be easily killed by even the strongest antibiotics in existence and can lead to death. Infections usually affect seriously ill people who have weak immune systems.
The bacteria has been reported in 20 countries around the world including such places as India, Japan, the United States, Britain, Canada and South Korea.
Crystalgenomics said it has filed for an international patent for its discovery and registered the findings with U.S.-based Protein Data Bank.
The company said that since its researchers have been able to decode the bacteria, work can commence to develop a material that specifically targets the NDM-1.
It added that talks are under way with foreign pharmaceutical companies to develop a drug treatment. (Yonhap)
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