New "weapon" found against dangerous superbug

An international team of scientists has made a significant discovery in the fight against one of the most insidious infections of our time. Researchers have found a promising compound capable of effectively destroying gonococcus (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) - the dangerous causative agent of gonorrhea, notoriously known for its rapid development of antibiotic resistance. The results of this promising research have been published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Microbiology.

Scientists from the University of Konstanz and the University of Vienna have identified a fundamentally new class of substances - alkylquinolones, which are natural molecules used by bacteria in their natural struggle for survival. The researchers' attention was particularly drawn to a synthetic variant of these compounds - 2-nonyl-4-quinolone-N-oxide (NQNO).

Laboratory tests established that NQNO works through a unique mechanism - it disrupts the electron transport chain in gonococcus cells, causing critical internal stress and triggering the bacteria's self-destruction program. The most important advantage of the new compound is its selectivity: the substance proved to be safe for human cells and does not disturb the balance of beneficial microflora.

Preclinical trials on animal models demonstrated high effectiveness of the new therapy method. Moreover, researchers managed to further improve the properties of NQNO through targeted chemical modification.

The discovery takes on special significance in light of the fact that the World Health Organization has included Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the list of priority pathogens due to this bacterium's alarming ability to quickly acquire resistance to existing treatment methods. The new compound could be a decisive step in the fight against this dangerous infection, especially in the context of the global spread of difficult-to-treat strains.