Novel Antibiotic Against Colistin Resistant MDR Klebsiellasps

The rise in extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and pan-drug-resistant (PDR) K. pneumoniae worldwide is a concerning threat as the infections are untreatable in some cases. Polymyxins considered as rescue antibiotics to treat deadly infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, are becoming ineffective due to emergence of resistant strains. M152-P3 isolated in the lab is highly active against colistin-resistant clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae. 

A drug specifically active against K. pneumoniae strains of clinical relevance may be used as a definitive therapy. The analogues of this compound which are more efficacious and less toxic can be patented and commercialized. Moreover, the technology for producing this natural compound using the producer microorganism itself in fermentation after media and process optimization can have commercial value. Alternatively, the biosynthetic genes for M152-P3 compounds can be cloned and expressed in a suitable host for large scale synthesis at cheaper scale. 

 The salient features of this technology are:

• The compound is novel
• Active against colistin resistant MDR Klebsiellasps
• The spectrum of activity is better than existing polymyxin B and colistin
• It is bacterial fermentation based product
• It is non-haemolytic and non-toxic
• The chances of cross resistance is less as this scaffold/antibiotic is not in clinical practice at present