Penicillin News and Research

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Penicillin (sometimes abbreviated PCN or pen) is a group of antibiotics derived from ''Penicillium'' fungi. Penicillin antibiotics are historically significant because they are the first drugs that were effective against many previously serious diseases such as syphilis and Staphylococcus infections.

Already characterized active substances exhibit unexpected effects

Every innovative drug starts with the search for an active substance targeting key players in disease-related processes.

23 Jul 2021

Living cells can produce semi-interpenetrating polymer networks

Biomedical engineers at Duke University have demonstrated that a class of interwoven composite materials called semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (sIPNs) can be produced by living cells. The approach could make these versatile materials more biologically compatible for biomedical applications such as time-delayed drug delivery systems.

11 Jun 2021

New process reinvigorates the search for natural drugs to treat cancers

A research team has devised a new method that might revitalize the hunt for natural product medications to treat viral infections, cancer, and other diseases.

4 Jun 2021

New models can optimize wastewater disinfection process, prevent spread of antibiotic resistance

For almost a century, advances in human healthcare have largely relied on the efficiency through which bacterial diseases can be treated.

3 Mar 2021

Hidden genes in bacteriophages may be key to the development of new antibiotics

A study from the Center for Phage Technology, part of Texas A&M's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, shows how the "hidden" genes in bacteriophages -- types of viruses that infect and destroy bacteria -- may be key to the development of a new class of antibiotics for human health.

8 Feb 2021

In-depth review of plant natural products paves way for drug discovery

Scientists have compiled the first comprehensive review of plant natural products that play a role in antibacterial activity, to serve as a guide in the search for new drugs to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

12 Nov 2020

Study sheds new light on penicillin allergy

Scientists have reported the first strong evidence of the role of HLA-B, a crucial histocompatibility complex gene, in penicillin allergy.

27 Oct 2020

Researchers sequence the genome of original penicillin strain

For the first time, scientists have sequenced the genome of Alexander Fleming’s penicillin mould and compared it to the later models.

25 Sep 2020

Researchers describe new approach involving "antivitamins" to develop new antibiotics

Antibiotics are among the most important discoveries of modern medicine and have saved millions of lives since the discovery of penicillin almost 100 years ago.

25 Aug 2020

Researchers use genome editing to facilitate drug discovery based on natural fungus

Rice University scientists have won federal support for their pursuit of novel drugs to treat human disease.

11 Aug 2020

Gym equipment found to contain high levels of antibiotic-resistant pathogens

According to a study 43% of Staphylococcus bacteria harboring on exercise equipment in university gyms was resistant to ampicillin.

27 Jul 2020

Study shows genetic mutations allow MRSA to develop antibiotic resistance

Researchers have discovered that genetic mutations that occur in MRSA enable it to evolve and turn out to be more resistant to antibiotics like penicillin.

27 Jul 2020

New framework for understanding and combating antibiotic resistance

In a study that could offer further insights into antimicrobial resistance, researchers from the University of Sheffield have generated the first high-resolution images of the cell wall structure of bacteria.

30 Apr 2020

Syphilis bacterium likely uses a single gene to escape the immune system

The bacterium that causes syphilis, Treponema pallidum, likely uses a single gene to escape the immune system, research from UW Medicine in Seattle suggests.

27 Apr 2020