Research Team at MPU Unveils New Mechanism to Combat Drug Resistance in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
PhD student Jiao Fangfang from the Doctoral Program in Computer Applied Technology at Macao Polytechnic University, under the supervision of Professor Guo Jingjing from the Center for Artificial Intelligence-Driven Drug Discovery, in collaboration with Professor Tong Henry and scholars from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, formed a research team that published a paper in the international academic journal Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics. The paper, titled “Synergistic Inhibition Mechanism of Quinazolinone and Piperacillin on Penicillin-binding Protein 2a: A Promising Approach for Combating Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus”, delves into the mechanisms of drug resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which will aid in the development of pharmaceuticals and the formulation of combined treatment strategies in this field.
The research team utilized computational simulations and molecular docking experiments to unveil the potential molecular mechanisms by which quinazolinone drugs restore the sensitivity of MRSA to β-lactam antibiotics. By targeting the allosteric site of penicillin-binding protein 2a, these drugs could help overcome MRSA's resistance to conventional antibiotic therapies. The findings are poised to play a key role in the pharmaceutical development and therapeutic strategy formulation for MRSA, contributing significantly to the advancement of global public health.
The Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics publishes high-quality experimental, computational, and theoretical biophysical research outcomes. The journal is indexed in international databases such as SCIE and Scopus, and it is ranked in the Q1 quartile in the field of “Biophysics” by SCI.
Referenec: https://www.gov.mo/pt/noticias/723247/