Researchers Uncover How Key Antibiotics Pierce Bacterial Armor

Phys.org reported on September 29, 2025, that a research team from UCL (University College London) and Imperial College London has shown for the first time how polymyxin antibiotics function. These life-saving drugs were observed piercing the protective armor of harmful bacteria. The joint research effort, published in Nature Microbiology, successfully visualized the precise mechanism that allows the antibiotics to breach the outer defenses of these pathogens, providing an unprecedented look at this critical process. The team used high-resolution imaging to show the antibiotic Polymyxin B causing bumps and bulges to appear on the surface of E. coli bacteria within minutes.

ssbcrack.com reported, This discovery is vital for addressing bacterial infections, as polymyxins are often used as a last-resort treatment. The research revealed that the antibiotic tricks active bacteria into overproducing and shedding their armor, which creates gaps in their defenses and allows the drug to enter and kill the cell. However, the antibiotic was ineffective against dormant bacteria where armor production is switched off. This fundamental understanding of the antibiotic's mode of action could enable scientists to develop more effective antibacterial strategies, such as combining polymyxins with treatments that "wake up" dormant bacteria.