A NEW ANTIBIOTIC HAS BEEN HIDING IN THE GUT OF A TINY WORM. IT MAY BE OUR BEST WEAPON AGAINST DRUG-RESISTANT BACTERIA.

Researchers at Northeastern have discovered a new antibiotic that could treat infections caused by some of the nastiest superbugs humanity is facing in the antibiotic resistance crisis.

After two years of work, a team of researchers led by Kim Lewis, University Distinguished Professor of biology, announced their discovery of darobactin, which can kill resistant microbes known as gram-negative bacteria.

The discovery, published today in Nature, promises to be a much-needed weapon in the war on drug-resistant bacteria, which are estimated to cause 700,000 deaths each year worldwide.