A Common Blood Pressure Medicine Could Help Fight a Deadly Superbug
A new study led by researchers at the Houston Methodist Research Institute found that the blood pressure drug Candesartan cilexetil could help combat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a common and difficult-to-treat bacterial infection. The drug disrupted the bacteria's cell membrane, ultimately killing it in lab and animal studies.
Researchers at the Houston Methodist Research Institute have discovered that Candesartan cilexetil, a blood pressure medication, may help fight MRSA, a type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In lab and animal studies, the drug disrupted the bacteria's cell membrane, interfering with cellular function and killing the bacteria. MRSA causes over 70,000 severe infections and 9,000 deaths in the US annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The team analyzed the drug's interaction with MRSA using simulations and advanced imaging techniques. Candesartan cilexetil is inexpensive and widely used, making it an attractive option if its effectiveness against MRSA is confirmed in human trials. The researchers found that the drug can also help fight off persistent MRSA bacteria that can hide dormant in the body.
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