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.

Study reveals how bacterial selfishness affects antibiotic resistance strategies

As strains of pathogens resistant to frontline antibiotics become more common worldwide, clinicians are more often turning to combination treatments that degrade this resistance as a first treatment option.

10 Oct 2024

Spirituality and distrust influence Black patients' participation in cancer trials

Spiritual beliefs and a historically-based distrust of clinical research may factor into Black patients' decisions about whether to participate in cancer trials, according to surveys of patients treated at two Baltimore medical centers.

30 Sep 2024

New tool spots drug-resistant bacteria before treatment

Penicillin was hailed as "the silver bullet" when it was discovered, as it had the unprecedented quality of being able to kill disease-causing bacteria without harming the human body. Since then, a multitude of other antibiotics have been developed that specifically target a wide range of bacteria; but the more often they are used, the greater the risk that antibiotic-resistant strains will arise.

19 Sep 2024

Collaborative study offers hope for syphilis vaccine development

Syphilis cases have surged worldwide, leaving public health officials scrounging for ways to stop the spread. Now, a large, collaborative study of syphilis genetics from four continents has found hints of a possible target for a vaccine.

19 Sep 2024

Fish gut bacteria may provide new ingredients for skincare

There are some pretty strange ingredients in cosmetics and skin care products. One example is snail mucin -; also known as snail slime -; which is used for its moisturizing and antioxidant properties.

5 Sep 2024

Research unveils how hormones affect immune system differences between genders

Researchers have uncovered how hormones profoundly affect our immune systems, explaining why men and women are affected by diseases differently.

5 Sep 2024

DNA scavengers break down antibiotic-resistant genes

For nearly a century, scientists have waged war on antibiotic-resistant microbes. Michigan State University researchers say they've found a new way to prevent it – by unleashing "DNA scavengers" in wastewater treatment plants.

22 Aug 2024

Researchers use XAI to unlock secrets of drug discovery

Artificial intelligence (AI) has exploded in popularity. It powers models that help us drive vehicles, proofread emails and even design new molecules for medications.

18 Aug 2024

Common antibiotics linked to severe skin reactions, study warns doctors to choose wisely

Research reveals that sulfonamides and cephalosporins significantly increase the risk of serious cutaneous adverse drug reactions, highlighting the importance of careful antibiotic selection in elderly patients.

12 Aug 2024

Breakthrough in the synthesis of fungal bioactive compounds for therapeutic applications

The natural world is rich in chemical compounds with remarkable medicinal properties. A notable example is penicillin, discovered by chance from the Penicillium mold.

9 Aug 2024

Study links fungal heteroresistance to fatal bloodstream infections in bone marrow transplant patients

Emory researcher David Weiss has spent years studying a baffling phenomenon called heteroresistance, in which a tiny fraction of bacteria remain resistant to antibiotics, while the remainder succumb.

2 Aug 2024

Specialized medication management improves care for elderly patients

Ensuring older hospital patients receive specialized medication management could reduce their stay in hospital and potentially lower their risk of death, according to new research conducted by Flinders University in collaboration with Flinders Medical Centre.

31 Jul 2024

Researchers develop a simple new way to store, identify, and share phages

The great promise of bacteriophages is that they naturally destroy bacteria, often in situations where antibiotics fail.

12 Jul 2024

Mapping pathogen spread and evolution using genomic and human mobility data

A new way to map the spread and evolution of pathogens, and their responses to vaccines and antibiotics, will provide key insights to help predict and prevent future outbreaks.

3 Jul 2024

Amoxicillin outperforms penicillin V in treating pediatric pneumonia, study finds

A recent study confirmed amoxicillin's lower risk of treatment failure compared to penicillin V in treating pediatric pneumonia, with no difference in severe complications.

18 Jun 2024

Changing antibiotic delivery method improves sepsis outcomes globally

Changing the way antibiotics are given to adult patients with sepsis will save thousands of lives a year globally, according to research by The University of Queensland and The George Institute for Global Health.

12 Jun 2024

Antibacterial lipopeptide shown to be highly effective in killing Staphylococcus aureus

A novel antibacterial lipopeptide produced by the bacterium Serratia marcescens has been shown to be highly effective in killing Staphylococcus aureus – one of the most important pathogens occurring in humans.

6 Jun 2024

Artificial intelligence accelerates natural-product antibiotic discovery

Almost a century ago, the discovery of antibiotics like penicillin revolutionized medicine by harnessing the natural bacteria-killing abilities of microbes.

5 Jun 2024

WHO updates Bacterial Priority Pathogens List to combat antimicrobial resistance

The World Health Organization (WHO) today released its updated Bacterial Priority Pathogens List (BPPL) 2024, featuring 15 families of antibiotic-resistant bacteria grouped into critical, high and medium categories for prioritization.

20 May 2024

Gut bacteria and urinary infections linked, offering new angles for treatment

A study in eClinicalMedicine explores the relationship between gut microbiota, urinary tract colonization, and recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTI), suggesting the cross-habitation of uropathogenic E. coli as a significant mechanism in rUTI recurrence.

30 Apr 2024