Research from the University of Kent’s School of Biosciences has revealed that a molecule produced by the human immune system can severely diminish the potency of certain antibiotics.
This may explain why antibiotics effective in laboratory settings can be less effective at clearing infections in humans.
The research findings, which have been published in the journal Archives of Microbiology, reveal that nitric oxide, a molecule produced by our immune systems, can render aminoglycoside antibiotics ineffective when used against E. coli strains isolated from human infections.
E. coli causes life-threatening infections including sepsis, bladder infections, kidney failure, and dysentery. Whilst the human immune system produces nitric oxide to kill invading bacteria, this study reports that nitric oxide can also undermine the function of antibiotics that are used as first-line agents to treat infections caused by drug-resistant E. coli.
It is expected that these findings will greatly influence the choice and dose of antibiotic treatments prescribed by medical professionals.
Corresponding author Dr Mark Shepherd, Senior Lecturer in Microbial Biochemistry at Kent, said: ‘This work highlights the urgent need for a better understanding of how the human immune system can profoundly affect the activity of antibiotics, which is of great importance for future therapies to treat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.’
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The paper ‘Nitric oxide (NO) elicits aminoglycoside tolerance in Escherichia coli but antibiotic resistance gene carriage and NO sensitivity have not co-evolved’ (University of Kent: Cláudia A. Ribeiro, Luke A. Rahman, Louis G. Holmes, Ayrianna M. Woody, Calum M. Webster, Taylor I. Monaghan, Dr Gary K. Robinson, Professor Fritz A. Mühlschlegel, Dr Mark Shepherd; University of Salford: Dr Ian B. Goodhead) is available at:
Notes to Editors
The University of Kent is a leading UK university producing world-class research, rated internationally excellent and leading the way in many fields of study. Our 20,000 students are based at campuses and centres in Canterbury, Medway, Brussels and Paris.
With 97% of our research judged to be of international quality in the most recent Research Assessment Framework (REF2014), our students study with some of the most influential thinkers in the world. Universities UK recently named research from the University as one of the UK’s 100 Best Breakthroughs of the last century for its significant impact on people’s everyday lives.
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In March 2018, the Government and Health Education England (HEE) announced that the joint bid by the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University for funded places to establish a medical school has been successful. The first intake of undergraduates to the Kent and Medway Medical School will be in September 2020.
We are proud to be part of Canterbury, Medway and the county of Kent and, through collaboration with partners, work to ensure our global ambitions have a positive impact on the region’s academic, cultural, social and economic landscape.
