Combating antimicrobial resistance

Combining several structural biology methods, researchers at the Biozentrum, University of Basel, have revealed the structure of the BAM-darobactin complex at the molecular level. The study could have a significant impact on the search for new antibiotics to fight pathogens.

In a study published in Nature, scientists from the Biozentrum, University of Basel describe the mechanism of action of Darobactin, a molecule, which selectively kills Gram-negative pathogens and presents a very promising lead substance for the development of a new antibiotic. 
They resolve how Darobactin interacts with the BAM membrane protein complex using a combination of cryo-electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, native mass spectrometry, in vivo experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. The crystallographic data were collected at the X06Sa-PXI beamline at the Swiss Light Source.