New DNA Strategy from IIT Bombay Could Reverse Antibiotic Resistance

The fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) one of the most serious global health threats is entering a new phase, thanks to a breakthrough from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. Instead of chasing new antibiotics, researchers here are attempting something far more strategic: making old antibiotics work again .

For decades, antibiotics have been essential in treating infections from pneumonia to bloodstream diseases and in enabling life-saving procedures like surgeries and chemotherapy. But their widespread misuse has allowed bacteria to evolve defence mechanisms, rendering many drugs ineffective. India, in particular, faces a severe AMR burden due to easy access to antibiotics, high disease prevalence, and gaps in sanitation.

The IIT Bombay team, led by Prof. Ruchi Anand and Prof. P. I. Pradeepkumar, has developed a novel approach using DNA aptamers short, synthetic strands of genetic material designed to bind precisely to bacterial targets. These aptamers are engineered to block resistance enzymes , which bacteria use to neutralise antibiotics.

Think of it as disarming the enemy rather than attacking it directly. Once these enzymes are blocked, antibiotics can once again bind to bacterial structures and perform their function effectively.

However, delivering DNA into bacterial cells is no easy task. DNA molecules are fragile and often destroyed before they can reach their target. To overcome this, researchers used a liposome-based delivery system tiny, fat-like bubbles that protect the DNA and help it penetrate bacterial cells. This significantly improves the stability and efficiency of the treatment.

What makes this approach especially promising is that it works as an antibiotic adjuvant a companion therapy that enhances existing drugs rather than replacing them. This could drastically reduce the time and cost associated with developing entirely new antibiotics.

In a country like India, where pathogens such as E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae show high levels of multidrug resistance , such innovations could be game-changing. Rising resistance to even last-resort drugs has already increased treatment costs and mortality rates.

While the research is still at an early stage and requires further testing, it signals a crucial shift in thinking. Instead of constantly developing new weapons, science is now learning how to reuse and strengthen what already exists a move that could redefine the global battle against superbugs.