Penicillin News and Research

RSS

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.

Six federal scientists run out by Trump talk about the work left undone

Marc Ernstoff, a physician who has pioneered immunotherapy research and treatments for cancer patients, said his work as a federal scientist proved untenable under the Trump administration.

6 Mar 2026

Skin-delivered estrogen improves bone health in amenorrhoa

Hormone replacement therapy applied via the skin is the best way of protecting bone density in women whose periods have stopped due to anorexia or intense exercise, according to new research from Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

6 Feb 2026

Burn injuries may have driven key human evolutionary traits

Humans' exposure to high temperature burn injuries may have played an important role in our evolutionary development, shaping how our bodies heal, fight infection, and sometimes fail under extreme injury, according to new research.

4 Feb 2026

Single penicillin injection found to be as effective as three doses for early syphilis

Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have found that a single injection of the antibiotic benzathine penicillin G (BPG) successfully treated early syphilis just as well as the three-injection regimen used by many clinicians in the United States and elsewhere.

3 Sep 2025

Flavonols found in foods can block drug resistance protein and boost medication absorption

Researchers identified specific flavonols that potently inhibit breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), a key driver of drug resistance and poor oral drug absorption. The study found that these flavonols can reverse chemotherapy resistance in vitro and boost drug exposure in animal models, though clinical translation remains uncertain.

6 Aug 2025

Routine vaccines may be the key to fighting antibiotic resistance

A study reveals that rising vaccine coverage in children is linked to reduced antibiotic prescriptions, suggesting a shift in the fight against drug resistance.

16 Jul 2025

New analysis shows stopping antidepressants rarely leads to severe symptoms

The largest review of 'gold standard' antidepressant withdrawal studies to date has identified the type and incidence of symptoms experienced by people discontinuing antidepressants, finding most people do not experience severe withdrawal.

10 Jul 2025

Researchers turn a deadly fungus into potent cancer-fighting compound

Penn-led researchers have turned a deadly fungus into a potent cancer-fighting compound. After isolating a new class of molecules from Aspergillus flavus, a toxic crop fungus linked to deaths in the excavations of ancient tombs, the researchers modified the chemicals and tested them against leukemia cells.

23 Jun 2025

Green light activates modified penicillin to target bacterial infections

To treat bacterial infections, medical professionals prescribe antibiotics. But not all active medicine gets used up by the body.

12 Jun 2025

When old diseases find new ways in: Europe’s latest diphtheria outbreak explained

A large multicountry outbreak of toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae occurred among migrants entering Europe in 2022, driven primarily by cutaneous infections and involving multiple genetic lineages. Despite the unprecedented surge, transmission to resident populations was limited, but rising antimicrobial resistance and delayed treatment highlight ongoing public health risks.

10 Jun 2025

Mass treatment with the antibiotic azithromycin may lead to increased drug resistance

Efforts to reduce child mortality in Africa via mass treatment with the antibiotic azithromycin (AZM) may lead to increased drug resistance in bacteria that frequently cause pneumonia and meningitis, highlighting the need for careful monitoring, finds a new study led by UCL.

4 Jun 2025

Positive self-perceptions about aging linked to better post-fall physical recovery

There is a strong association between an older person's view of how they are aging and how well they will physically recover after a fall.

22 May 2025

USPSTF urges universal syphilis screening in pregnancy to prevent congenital infections

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) reaffirms its recommendation for universal syphilis screening in pregnancy, citing strong evidence for early detection and prevention of congenital syphilis. Despite ongoing disparities and rising rates, early screening and treatment remain essential to improving outcomes for mothers and infants.

18 May 2025

New antibiotic offers hope for more effective Lyme disease treatment

Lyme disease, a disease transmitted when deer ticks feed on infected animals like deer and rodents, and then bite humans, impacts nearly half a million individuals in the U.S. annually.

24 Apr 2025

Scientists uncover why Lyme disease symptoms may linger after treatment

Symptoms that persist long after Lyme disease is treated are not uncommon - a 2022 study found that 14% of patients who were diagnosed and treated early with antibiotic therapy would still develop Post Treatment Lyme Disease (PTLD).

23 Apr 2025

Clinical AI tool scores highest yet on the United States Medical Licensing Exam

A powerful clinical artificial intelligence tool developed by University at Buffalo biomedical informatics researchers has demonstrated remarkable accuracy on all three parts of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (Step exams), according to a paper published today (April 22) in JAMA Network Open.

22 Apr 2025