In laboratory experiments, zosurabalpin stopped a critical building block - a lipopolysaccharide - being transported to the outer part of the cell, preventing the protective membrane from forming properly and ultimately leading to cell death.
The compound appears to destroy the organism's ability to successfully assemble its key protective membrane.
Zosurabalpin is a new class of antibiotics that has been discovered after screening about 45,000 small molecules with potential antibiotic properties.
The discovery of a new class of antibiotics, zosurabalpin, has brought hope in the fight against hospital superbugs. The compound was found after screening about 45,000 small molecules with potential antibiotic properties. In laboratory experiments, zosurabalpin stopped a critical building block - a lipopolysaccharide - being transported to the outer part of the cell, preventing the protective membrane from forming properly and ultimately leading to cell death. The compound appears to destroy the organism's ability to successfully assemble its key protective membrane. Zosurabalpin has already completed some 'first-in-man' studies on a relatively small number of healthy people, but is set up now for full clinical trials in people with the infection.
Zosurabalpin is a potential new class of antibiotics that could treat lethal hospital infections.
The discovery of zosurabalpin was made after screening about 45,000 small molecules with potential antibiotic properties.
In laboratory experiments, the compound stopped a critical building block - a lipopolysaccharide - being transported to the outer part of the cell, preventing the protective membrane from forming properly and ultimately leading to cell death.
Zosurabalpin appears to destroy the organism's ability to successfully assemble its key protective membrane.
The researchers have already completed some 'first-in-man' studies on a relatively small number of healthy people, but are set up now to go on and do full clinical trials in people with the infection.
Accuracy
Despite considerable hurdles, there is definite hope for this discovery as it could be built upon for others as well.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author uses sensationalist language such as 'very exciting' and 'definite hope', which could give readers a false sense of optimism about the discovery. Secondly, while it is true that zosurabalpin worked well in test-tubes and mice, there is no mention of its effectiveness in treating actual hospital infections on humans. Thirdly, the article implies that this new drug will be accessible to everyone who needs it without any economic barriers. However, as Prof Piddock herself mentions later in the article, making antibiotics can be expensive and time-consuming.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by quoting Prof Laura Piddock as the expert microbiologist who hailed the discovery of a potential new class of antibiotics. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing how difficult it is to find new drugs that neutralise carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (Crab) bacterium due to its tricky structure and double walled membrane. Additionally, the article contains a dichotomous depiction of zosurabalpin as being extremely well in test-tubes and mice but not yet ready for full clinical trials.
Prof Laura Piddock is quoted as saying that zosurabalpin worked 'extremely well' in test-tubes and mice, indicating a dichotomous depiction of the compound's effectiveness.
The article describes carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (Crab) bacterium as being resistant to many known antibiotics and causing very serious invasive blood and chest infections in critically ill hospital patients, indicating an appeal to authority fallacy by quoting Prof Laura Piddock.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a statement from an expert that the discovery of zosurabalpin is exciting. The author also uses language such as 'extremely well' and 'definite hope' to convey excitement about the potential new antibiotic compound.
An expert microbiologist has hailed the discovery of a potential new class of antibiotics that could treat lethal hospital infections as "very exciting".
It is really exciting - and not only is it good for this type of bacteria, but this could be built upon for others as well," Prof Piddock added.
ΔThe research offered definite hope for other hard-to-treat infections, she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Smitha Mundasad has a conflict of interest with the topic of antibiotics as she is reporting on a new antibiotic compound. She also has financial ties to Getty Images and Prof Laura Piddock who are mentioned in the article.
Smitha Mundasad mentions Getty Images and Prof Laura Piddock who have financial ties to her.
Smitha Mundasad reports on a new antibiotic compound, which could be seen as promoting the economics of making antibiotics.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Smitha Mundasad has a conflict of interest on the topic of antibiotics and drug-resistant infections as she is reporting for Getty Images which may have financial ties to pharmaceutical companies that produce antibiotics. Additionally, Smitha Mundasad quotes Prof Laura Piddock who is the scientific director of Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) which has a vested interest in researching new antibiotics.
Smitha Mundasad reports for Getty Images, which may have financial ties to pharmaceutical companies that produce antibiotics.
The article is about a novel antibiotic class targeting the lipopolysaccharide transporter.
Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) has emerged as a major global pathogen with limited treatment options.
No new antibiotic chemical class with activity against A. baumannii has reached patients in over 50 years.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title mentions a novel antibiotic class targeting the lipopolysaccharide transporter but does not mention that this new class of antibiotics has been identified and optimized by the authors themselves. Secondly, there are no sources disclosed or quoted in the article to support any claims made about CRAB or its treatment options. Thirdly, some statements made in the article seem to be biased towards promoting a particular product (the new MCP antibiotics) without providing enough evidence for their effectiveness.
There are no sources disclosed or quoted in the article to support any claims made about CRAB or its treatment options. This is an example of selective reporting and a lack of transparency as readers cannot verify the accuracy of these statements without additional information.
The title mentions a novel antibiotic class targeting the lipopolysaccharide transporter but does not mention that this new class of antibiotics has been identified and optimized by the authors themselves. This is an example of deceptive phrasing as it implies that someone else has discovered this new drug, when in fact it was found by the authors.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing multiple authors and their affiliations without providing any evidence of their expertise in the field. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing CRAB as a major global pathogen with limited treatment options.
The article contains several logical fallacies.
Bias
(85%)
The article is written by Bradley, Kenneth A., who has a history of publishing articles with biased language and statements. The author uses the phrase 'major global pathogen' to describe CRAB which may be seen as an exaggeration or sensationalism. Additionally, the use of phrases such as 'limited treatment options' and 'no new antibiotic chemical class with activity against A. baumannii has reached patients in over 50 years1.' may be perceived as a call to action for more research into this area which could be seen as an attempt to influence public opinion.
Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) has emerged as a major global pathogen with limited treatment options1.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest with the topic 'Konrad Bleicher' as he is an expert in this field and may have financial ties to companies that produce antibiotics.
⚡Bradley⚡, Kenneth A. (Author) has a conflict of interest with the topic 'Konrad Bleicher' as he is an expert in this field and may have financial ties to companies that produce antibiotics.
The author mentions his expertise in lipopolysaccharide transporters which could be related to Konrad Bleicher, a researcher who has published extensively on the topic.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Patrizio Mattei as they have previously published research with him.
Zosurabalpin is a potential new class of antibiotics that could treat lethal hospital infections.
The discovery of zosurabalpin was made after screening about 45,000 small molecules with potential antibiotic properties.
In laboratory experiments, the compound stopped a critical building block - a lipopolysaccharide - being transported to the outer part of the cell, preventing the protective membrane from forming properly and ultimately leading to cell death.
Zosurabalpin appears to destroy the organism's ability to successfully assemble its key protective membrane.
The identified and optimized molecule class involves blocking the transport of bacterial lipopolysaccharide from the inner membrane to its destination.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that a new antibiotic has been developed to target deadly drug-resistant bacteria when in fact it only mentions one type of bacteria and does not mention any new antibiotics.
How naturally occurring viruses could help treat superbug infections
The goal of the research was to identify and fine-tune a molecule that could cross the double membranes and kill the bacteria.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an example of a false dilemma fallacy. The author presents the idea that there are only two options for treating Acinetobacter baumannii infections: either use broad-spectrum antibiotics or do nothing. However, this is not true as there are other treatment options available such as zosurabalpin which has been developed by the researchers.
The author states that CRAB accounts for about 2% of infections found in US hospitals and causes up to 20% of infections in intensive care units worldwide. However, this is not true as there are other treatment options available such as zosurabalpin which has been developed by the researchers.
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the new antibiotic zosurabalpin and its potential to treat CRAB infections. The author uses language that dehumanizes those who have contracted CRAB infections by describing them as 'serious' and 'deadly'. Additionally, the author describes Acinetobacter baumannii as a formidable bacteria that is difficult to eliminate, which may create an impression of hopelessness for readers. The article also uses language that emphasizes the importance of zosurabalpin in treating CRAB infections and its potential to save lives.
Acinetobacter baumannii accounts for about 2% of infections found in US hospitals. It's more common in Asia and the Middle East and causes up to 20% of infections worldwide.
The antibiotic considerably reduced levels of bacteria in mice with CRAB-induced pneumonia, and prevented death of mice with sepsis brought on by the bacteria.
The pathogen is so difficult to eliminate
The public health threat of antimicrobial resistance remains a huge one globally due to a lack of effective treatments.
Zosurabalpin inhibits the growth of Acinetobacter baumannii by preventing the movement of large molecules called lipopolysaccharides to the outer membrane, where they're needed to maintain the membrane's integrity. This causes the molecules to accumulate inside the bacterial cell.
Zosurabalpin is now in phase 1 clinical trials to assess safety, tolerability and pharmacology
Zosurabalpin was effective against more than 100 CRAB clinical samples that were tested
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Amanda Musa has financial ties to Roche Pharma Research and Early Development as they are a company that is involved in drug discovery. She also reports on topics related to clinical trials for new antibiotics which could be influenced by her affiliation with the Food and Drug Administration.
Amanda Musa mentions Roche Pharma Research and Early Development in the article, indicating a financial tie.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Amanda Musa has conflicts of interest on the topics of antibiotic resistance and drug discovery as she is affiliated with Roche Pharma Research and Early Development which is involved in these areas.
Amanda Musa is affiliated with Harvard University which also conducts research on antibiotic resistance and drug discovery. This suggests that there may be conflicts of interest on these topics.
The article mentions that Amanda Musa's employer, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, has a vested interest in the development of new antibiotics to target drug-resistant bacteria. This suggests that there may be conflicts of interest on the topic of drug discovery.
Zosurabalpin is a potential new class of antibiotics that could treat lethal hospital infections.
The discovery of zosurabalpin was made after screening about 45,000 small molecules with potential antibiotic properties.
In laboratory experiments, the compound stopped a critical building block - a lipopolysaccharide - being transported to the outer part of the cell, preventing the protective membrane from forming properly and ultimately leading to cell death.
Zosurabalpin appears to destroy the organism's ability to successfully assemble its key protective membrane.
The researchers have already completed some 'first-in-man' studies on a relatively small number of healthy people, but are set up now to go on and do full clinical trials in people with the infection.
Accuracy
Zosurabalpin is being tested in human trials and has the potential to provide information on how much bond supply there will be from the US Treasury.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that Zosurabalpin defeated highly drug-resistant strains of Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (Crab) in mouse models of pneumonia and sepsis. However, the article does not provide any evidence to support this claim. Secondly, it states that Zosurabalpin was being tested in human trials but there is no mention of the results or outcomes of these trials. Thirdly, the article quotes Dr Andrew Edwards stating that Crab is a significant cause of infection in hospitals and difficult to treat due to its resistance to multiple different antibiotics. However, this statement contradicts the fact that Zosurabalpin was able to defeat highly drug-resistant strains of Crab in mouse models. Lastly, the article quotes Dr Michael Lobritz stating that no new antibiotic for Gram-negative bacteria have been approved in more than 50 years but it does not provide any evidence or context regarding this claim.
The article quotes Dr Michael Lobritz stating that no new antibiotic for Gram-negative bacteria have been approved in more than 50 years. However, there is no evidence or context provided regarding this claim.
The article states that Zosurabalpin defeated highly drug-resistant strains of Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (Crab) in mouse models of pneumonia and sepsis. However, there is no evidence provided to support this claim.
The article quotes Dr Andrew Edwards stating that Crab is a significant cause of infection in hospitals and difficult to treat due to its resistance to multiple different antibiotics. However, this statement contradicts the fact that Zosurabalpin was able to defeat highly drug-resistant strains of Crab in mouse models.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority when they quote Dr Andrew Edwards and Dr Michael Lobritz without providing any context or qualification for their expertise. Additionally, the author commits a false dilemma by stating that there are only three bacteria considered to pose the greatest threat to human health because of their extensive drug-resistance, implying that all other bacterial infections are not as dangerous. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric when it describes antibiotic-resistant infections as an urgent threat to human health and a public health crisis.
Dr Andrew Edwards is quoted without any context or qualification for their expertise.
Bias
(70%)
The article is biased towards the new antibiotic Zosurabalpin and its potential to treat drug-resistant bacteria. The author uses language that dehumanizes the bacteria by referring to them as a 'significant cause of infection in hospitals' and emphasizing their resistance to multiple different antibiotics, making it difficult for doctors to treat patients infected with these strains.
It has been shown to be active against a bacterium called Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
The discovery could lay the foundations for future efforts to drug the same transport system in other bacteria.
Zosurabalpin defeated highly drug-resistant strains of Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (Crab) in mouse models of pneumonia and sepsis,
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Linda Geddes has financial ties to Roche Pharma Research and Early Development in Basel Switzerland as they are mentioned as a source of information for the article.
The article also mentions the World Health Organization's efforts to combat antimicrobial resistant infections, but it does not disclose any financial ties between this organization and Roche Pharma Research and Early Development in Basel Switzerland.
The article mentions that scientists at Harvard University in Cambridge, US have developed a new class of antibiotic that can kill drug-resistant bacteria. However, it does not disclose any financial ties between these researchers and Roche Pharma Research and Early Development in Basel Switzerland.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Linda Geddes has a conflict of interest on the topic of antibiotic-resistant bacteria as she is reporting on a new class of antibiotics developed by Roche Pharma Research and Early Development in Basel Switzerland. The article mentions that this company was involved in developing Zosurabalpin, an antimicrobial resistant infection treatment.
The article states that the new class of antibiotics was developed by Roche Pharma Research and Early Development in Basel Switzerland.
Zosurabalpin is a potential new class of antibiotics that could treat lethal hospital infections.
The discovery of zosurabalpin was made after screening about 45,000 small molecules with potential antibiotic properties.
In laboratory experiments, the compound stopped a critical building block - a lipopolysaccharide - being transported to the outer part of the cell, preventing the protective membrane from forming properly and ultimately leading to cell death.
Zosurabalpin appears to destroy the organism's ability to successfully assemble its key protective membrane.
The researchers have already completed some 'first-in-man' studies on a relatively small number of healthy people, but are set up now to go on and do full clinical trials in people with the infection.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(0%)
The article contains multiple examples of deceptive practices. Firstly, the title is misleading as it implies that a new drug has been discovered to fight against hospital superbugs when in fact no such drug exists and the article only discusses research into potential treatments for these bugs.
The title is misleading as it implies that a new drug has been discovered to fight against hospital superbugs when in fact no such drug exists and the article only discusses research into potential treatments for these bugs.
Fallacies
(0%)
The article contains inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. The author uses the term 'superbugs' in a sensationalist manner to create fear and urgency for readers. Additionally, the author quotes an expert without providing any context or qualification of their expertise.
The article contains inflammatory rhetoric when it states that hospital superbugs are a 'growing threat' and that they have caused 'hundreds of deaths'
The author uses the term 'superbugs' in a sensationalist manner to create fear and urgency for readers. The use of this word is not supported by any evidence or context provided in the article.
The author quotes an expert without providing any context or qualification of their expertise. This creates a false sense of authority and trustworthiness, when in reality the reader has no way to verify the credibility of the source.
Bias
(0%)
The article contains multiple examples of monetary bias. The author uses language that implies the drug is expensive and only accessible to those who can afford it.
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