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. Syed Hashsham, MSU professor of civil and environmental engineering, and James Tiedje, University Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the departments of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences as well as Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, found an enzyme that breaks up strands of antibiotic-resistant DNA floating in wastewater before bacteria can pick them up and take on their antibiotic-resistant properties.
Hashsham said this could be a powerful, environmentally friendly tool to control the spread of antibiotic resistance in wastewater and help keep antibiotics effective. The two MSU researchers published their findings in Nature Water on August 19th, 2024 along with faculty from the University of Science and Technology of China. Hashsham wants to continue testing the enzyme and exploring its use as a wastewater disinfectant.
As with any new discovery, there is more work to be done to optimize the technology. But it is really a very novel technique." Syed Hashsham, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University Antibiotic resistance has plagued modern medicine since the invention of penicillin, largely due to misuse and overprescribing.
Bacteria constantly evolve and try to survive as new antibiotics are introduced to the ma.