IIT Roorkee decodes drug resistant superbug’s defence mechanism, paves way for new treatments

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has unveiled the defence mechanism of a superbug that could lead the way for new treatment techniques. The researchers at the engineering institute have revealed the attack and defense systems of Acinetobacter baumannii, a highly drug-resistant superbug responsible for life-threatening infections, as per the official statement by the institute.

Acinetobacter baumannii can resist multiple antibiotics, and is considered a threat in the healthcare domain as it could cause infections such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and urinary tract infections, as per the institute.

Kamal Kishore Pant, director at IIT Roorkee, said: “This breakthrough in understanding Acinetobacter baumannii’s defense mechanism is a testament to the high-impact work being carried out by our researchers. Such discoveries pave the way for innovative solutions in tackling antibiotic resistance and improving healthcare outcomes.”

“We found that when A. baumannii activates T6SS, it becomes more vulnerable to antibiotics and oxidative stress. So, the bacteria must carefully regulate this system to survive in different conditions,” Ranjana Pathania, professor at IIT Roorkee, said.

“Our discovery sheds light on how this pathogen adapts during infections, helping it evade both antibiotics and the immune system,” the professor added.

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Superbug Acinetobacter baumannii

The researchers at the institute also discovered that the Acinetobacter baumannii superbug can turn off or on its T6SS as per the environmental conditions. “A small RNA molecule, AbsR28, plays a key role in this regulation, influenced by manganese (Mn²+) levels. When Mn²+ levels are high, AbsR28 binds to an essential gene (tssM) required for T6SS function, leading to its degradation. This prevents the activation of T6SS and enables A. baumannii to retain plasmid pAB3, which carries multiple antibiotic resistance genes,” the institute said.

Moreover, it is possible that the scientists could disrupt the superbug’s regulatory system and discover new techniques for medicine, drug development against multidrug-resistant infections.

The strongest surviving tool of the superbug is its “Type 6 Secretion System (T6SS) - a bacterial weapon" which is used to attack microbes, the institute added.

Somok Bhowmik, Avik Pathak, Shivam Pandey, Kuldip Devnath, Abhiroop Sett, Nishant Jyoti, Timsy Bhando, Jawed Akhter, Saurabh Chugh, Ramandeep Singh, and Tarun Kumar Sharma were part of the research team that disclosed the pathogen’s mechanism.