Researchers at Monash University have found that A. baumannii must engage in bacterial warfare to survive in the presence of other species. They found that it uses a tiny needle-like system that injects toxins into nearby 'competitors' and kills them, taking over the dominant space.
In addition to the general mechanism, the scientists determined the molecular structure of the key toxin Tse15, which attaches to the needle. Remarkably, thanks to the protective layer, Tse15 does not harm A. baumannii, but when it breaks out of the “cage”, it is ready to attack other bacteria.
"This discovery will be a significant step in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria," said co-author John Boyce. The scientists plan to create specialized protein toxins that, like Tse15, will be delivered to bacteria to destroy them. At the same time, it will be possible to neutralize A. baumannii, blocking its mechanism of spread.
Earlier, a team from the US presented another technology to combat resistant bacteria. Scientists created silver micromotors that successfully destroy bacterial membranes and kill them.