New antibiotic kils bacteria in two minutes - developed by Bath and Warwick Universities

Researchers at the Universities of Bath and Warwick are developing a new antibiotic that can kill bacteria in two minutes.

They have made a synthetic compound that kills the bacteria by binding to its DNA, making it coil up and prevent it from working properly.

New antibiotic kils bacteria in two minutes

The DNA binding properties of the compound were discovered at the University of Warwick by Professor Mike Hannon and Professor Alison Rodger.

Initially the researchers focused on the application of this useful property for targeting the DNA of cancer cells, however the team quickly realised that it might also be a clever way of targeting drug-resistant bacteria.

Strikingly, they found that the compound quickly bound to its intended target (the bacteria's DNA) and killed virtually every cell within two minutes of being added.