A newly developed compound, infuzide, has demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity against drug-resistant pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus, offering fresh hope in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The findings were published in Microbiology Spectrum by researchers from India and France.

Key highlights

Effective against drug-resistant infections

• Infuzide targets gram-positive bacteria, including AMR strains of S. aureus and Enterococcus.

• In mouse models and lab tests, it outperformed standard antibiotics like vancomycin in reducing bacterial colonies.

Novel mechanism may slow resistance

• Infuzide operates through a different antibacterial mechanism, reducing the chances of bacteria developing resistance.

• When combined with synthetic antibiotic linezolid, the compound showed enhanced effectiveness.

Eco-friendly and scalable synthesis

• Synthesized without harmful solvents, making it cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

• Researchers claim the reactions can be easily scaled up for mass production.

Global collaboration and Indian contribution

• The study was co-led by Dr. Michel Baltas (University of Toulouse, France) and Dr. Sidharth Chopra (CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow, India).

• The team is also exploring its potential for treating diseases like tuberculosis.

As AMR continues to threaten global health systems, infuzide’s discovery provides a promising new direction for antimicrobial therapies. With potential for scalable production and novel action against resistant pathogens, the compound could help address a critical unmet medical need.