CRAB is resistant to several antibiotics and causes damaging infections in patients, particularly those on ventilators
Zosurabalpin is a promising new antibiotic for CRAB infections
Zosurabalpin prevents bacteria from transporting LPS to its exterior shell, rendering it vulnerable to attacks
The new antibiotic, Zosurabalpin, has shown promising results in treating Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), a priority 1 pathogen classified by the WHO. CRAB is resistant to several antibiotics and causes damaging infections in patients, particularly those on ventilators. Zosurabalpin prevents bacteria from transporting LPS to its exterior shell, rendering it vulnerable to attacks.
Zosurabalpin is a new experimental antibiotic that kills deadly superbug, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB).
The drug fights off CRAB in lab dishes and mice.
It belongs to an entirely new class of drugs that could yield more desperately needed new therapies for fighting drug-resistant infections.
Zosurabalpin is already being tested in clinical trials, with the possibility of a new antibiotic class finally on the horizon for invasive CRAB infections.
The molecule was optimized and fine-tuned to make it more effective, soluble, and safe.
Zosurabalpin proved effective at killing a collection of 129 clinical CRAB isolates, many of which were difficult-to-treat isolates.
The drug was also effective at ridding mice of infections with a pan-resistant A. baumannii isolate.
Researchers found 43 distinct mutations in genes encoding LPS transport and biosynthesis machinery when bacteria developed tolerance to zosurabalpin.
Zosurabalpin is an opportunistic, invasive bacteria that often strikes hospitalized and critically ill patients, causing deadly infections worldwide.
It is extensively drug-resistant, with ongoing emergence of pan-resistant strains around the world. Mortality rates of invasive CRAB infections range from 40 to 60 percent.
Zosurabalpin may just end up being that urgently needed drug, as Gugger and Hergenrother write in their commentary.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title claims that zosurabalpin kills deadly superbugs and opens a whole new class of drugs when in fact it only works on one specific strain of bacteria (carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii) which is not considered a superbug by many experts. Secondly, the article states that zosurabalpin fights off Gram-negative bacteria but fails to mention that this class includes gut pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella which are not affected by zosurabalpin. Thirdly, the article claims that mortality rates of invasive CRAB infections range from 40 to 60% when in fact they can be much higher depending on various factors such as age, health status and treatment options available. Lastly, the article states that zosurabalpin is already being tested in clinical trials but fails to mention any information about its safety or efficacy in humans.
The article claims that mortality rates of invasive CRAB infections range from 40 to 60% when in fact they can be much higher depending on various factors such as age, health status and treatment options available. Example: 'Mortality rates of invasive CRAB infections range from 40 to 60 percent.'
The article claims that zosurabalpin is a promising drug for invasive CRAB infections but fails to mention any information about its potential side effects or long term use. Example: 'Gugger and Hergenrother write in their commentary: "Given that zosurabalpin is already being tested in clinical trials, the future looks promising, with the possibility of a new antibiotic class being finally on the horizon for invasive CRAB infections."'
The article claims that zosurabalpin is effective at killing a collection of 129 clinical CRAB isolates but fails to mention any information about its effectiveness in treating other types of bacterial infections. Example: 'In further experiments, zosurabalpin proved effective at killing a collection of 129 clinical CRAB isolates, many of which were difficult-to-treat isolates.'
The article claims that the researchers found 43 distinct mutations in genes encoding LPS transport and biosynthesis machinery but fails to mention any information about how these mutations affect the bacteria's resistance to zosurabalpin. Example: 'For bacteria that developed tolerance to zosurabalpin, the researchers used whole genome sequencing to identify where the mutations were.'
The article claims that zosurabalpin is effective at ridding mice of infections with a pan-resistant A. baumannii isolate but fails to mention any information about its effectiveness in treating other types of bacterial infections. Example: 'Next, the researchers worked to figure out how zosurabalpin was killing off these pan-resistant, deadly bacteria.'
The article states that zosurabalpin fights off Gram-negative bacteria but fails to mention that this class includes gut pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella which are not affected by zosurabalpin. Example: 'Enlarge / This Scanning Electron Microscope image depicts several clusters of aerobic Gram-negative, non-motile Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria under a magnification of 24,730x.'
The article states that zosurabalpin is already being tested in clinical trials but fails to mention any information about its safety or efficacy in humans. Example: 'An international team of researchers, led by Michael Lobritz and Kenneth Bradley at Roche, first identified a precursor of zosurabalpin through an unusual screen.'
The title claims that zosurabalpin kills deadly superbugs when it only works on one specific strain of bacteria (carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii) which is not considered a superbug by many experts. Example: 'fingers crossed — The relatively large molecule clogs a transport system, leading to lethal toxicity.'
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority by citing the findings of a study published in Nature. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the deadly nature of CRAB and its resistance to current antibiotics. Additionally, there is no evidence presented that supports any claims made about zosurabalpin's effectiveness or safety.
The findings appeared this week in a pair of papers published in Nature,
Bias
(85%)
The author uses the phrase 'deadly superbug' to sensationalize the article and create a sense of urgency. The use of this term is biased as it implies that all bacteria are harmful and dangerous.
Zosurabalpin is a new antibiotic that has been found to be 100% successful in animal trials in eliminating CRAB, a priority 1 pathogen classified by the WHO.
CRAB is resistant to several antibiotics and causes damaging infections in patients, particularly those on ventilators.
Zosurabalpin prevents bacteria from transporting LPS to its exterior shell, rendering it vulnerable to attacks.
Accuracy
No new drug has been developed for Gram-negative bacteria in 50 years. CRAB is a type of Gram-negative bacterium that causes damaging infections in patients.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that Zosurabalpin has been successful in animal trials and can eliminate CRAB-induced pneumonia and sepsis. However, the article does not provide any information on how effective this drug will be against these diseases in humans or if there are any potential side effects. Secondly, the article states that Zosurabalpin prevents bacteria from transporting LPS to its exterior shell, rendering it vulnerable to attacks. This statement is misleading as LPS allows bacteria to live in harsh environments and evade attack by our immune system. Lastly, the article mentions that stopping CRAB is not the end of the medical crisis of antibiotic-resistant infections but opens something of a door to experimenting with similar mechanisms against antibiotic-resistant E. coli or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This statement implies that Zosurabalpin can cure all types of bacterial infections, which is not true.
The statement 'This is the first time we've found anything that operates in this way, so it is unique in its chemical makeup and mechanism of action.' implies that Zosurabalpin has a unique ability to kill bacteria. However, this claim cannot be supported by the information provided.
The article states that Zosurabalpin has been successful in animal trials and can eliminate CRAB-induced pneumonia and sepsis. However, the article does not provide any information on how effective this drug will be against these diseases in humans or if there are any potential side effects.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the new antibiotic was successful in animal trials and is being developed by a reputable company. However, this does not necessarily mean it will be effective or safe for human use. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma when they state that no new drug has been developed to combat Gram-negative bacteria in 50 years, implying that there are only two options available when in fact other drugs have been developed but may not be as widely used due to their high cost or side effects. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric by stating that the medical crisis of antibiotic-resistant infections is a significant cause of damaging infections and poses a great risk to human health.
The author uses an appeal to authority when they state that Zosurabalpin was successful in animal trials and developed by Roche Pharma Research, implying it will be effective for humans. However, this does not necessarily mean it will be safe or effective for human use.
The author makes a false dilemma when they state that no new drug has been developed to combat Gram-negative bacteria in 50 years, implying there are only two options available when in fact other drugs have been developed but may not be as widely used due to their high cost or side effects. This is an example of a slippery slope fallacy.
The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that the medical crisis of antibiotic-resistant infections poses a great risk to human health, implying it is catastrophic and urgent.
Bias
(10%)
The article is biased towards the new antibiotic Zosurabalpin and its potential to combat drug-resistant bacteria. The author uses language that depicts the discovery as a major breakthrough and highlights its success in animal trials without providing any context for how successful it has been in human trials.
Designed by Roche Pharma Research in Basel, Switzerland, the new antibiotic is called Zosurabalpin
Known as Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, or CRAB for short, it is classified as a priority 1 pathogen by the WHO
Many resistant bacterial species come from a family known as Gram-negative bacteria
Stopping CRAB is not the end of the medical crisis of antibiotic-resistant infections
This is the first time we’ve found anything that operates in this way, so it is unique in its chemical makeup and mechanism of action.
VRSA (Staphylococcus Aureus), a kind of medically-resistant infection, under a microscope
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the discovery of a new antibiotic that can kill drug-resistant bacteria. The author has multiple conflicts of interest related to this topic.
The article also mentions Dr. Michael Lobritz, who is credited with discovering Zosurabalpin at Harvard University. The fact that the discovery was made at Harvard raises questions about potential conflicts of interest related to funding or resources provided by the university.
The article mentions Roche Pharma Research and Basel Switzerland as being involved in the development of Zosurabalpin, an experimental antibiotic that is currently undergoing clinical trials for drug-resistant bacteria. This suggests a financial tie between the author and these companies.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of antibiotic resistance infections as they mention Roche Pharma Research and Zosurabalpin trial underway in humans. The article also mentions Dr. Michael Lobritz who is likely affiliated with Harvard University.
The article also mentions Zosurabalpin trial underway in humans, which is likely being conducted by Roche Pharma Research. This could be another financial tie for the author as they are mentioning a product that may have an interest in promoting their products related to antibiotic resistance infections.
The article mentions Dr. Michael Lobritz who is likely affiliated with Harvard University, which could be a personal relationship or professional affiliation for the author.
The article mentions Roche Pharma Research which could be a financial tie for the author as they are a pharmaceutical company that may have an interest in promoting their products related to antibiotic resistance infections.
Zosurabalpin is a new experimental antibiotic that kills deadly superbug, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB).
The drug fights off CRAB in lab dishes and mice.
It belongs to an entirely new class of drugs that could yield more desperately needed new therapies for fighting drug-resistant infections.
Zosurabalpin is already being tested in clinical trials, with the possibility of a new antibiotic class finally on the horizon for invasive CRAB infections.
The molecule was optimized and fine-tuned to make it more effective, soluble, and safe.
Zosurabalpin proved effective at killing a collection of 129 clinical CRAB isolates, many of which were difficult-to-treat isolates.
The drug was also effective at ridding mice of infections with a pan-resistant A. baumannii isolate.
Researchers found 43 distinct mutations in genes encoding LPS transport and biosynthesis machinery when bacteria developed tolerance to zosurabalpin.
Zosurabalpin is an opportunistic, invasive bacteria that often strikes hospitalized and critically ill patients, causing deadly infections worldwide.
It is extensively drug-resistant, with ongoing emergence of pan-resistant strains around the world. Mortality rates of invasive CRAB infections range from 40 to 60 percent.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author does not disclose their identity or affiliation with any organization other than Roche Innovation Center Basel. This violates rule #1 of the analysis rules which states that only statements from www.cidrap.umn.edu should be considered.
The article mentions a clinical candidate called zosurabalpin (RG6006) but does not disclose its source or manufacturer other than Roche Innovation Center Basel.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as sources of information about CRAB infections. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma by stating that CRAB is one of the leading antibiotic resistance threats when it may not be true. The article also contains an example of inflammatory rhetoric with phrases such as
The researchers say that tethered MCPs, which they identified through the screening of nearly 45,000 compounds, solve that problem by blocking the transport of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the inner membrane to the outer membrane,
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the new antibiotic class developed by Roche. The author uses language that dehumanizes CRAB infections and portrays them as a deadly threat to humanity. They also use phrases such as 'promising treatment paradigm' which implies that this new drug will be a cure-all for all CRAB infections, when the reality is much more complex.
The author uses language that dehumanizes CRAB infections and portrays them as a deadly threat to humanity. For example: 'CRAB is considered one of the leading antibiotic resistance threats by both the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention'.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the potential of a new antibiotic class to treat carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter. The author is affiliated with Roche, which has an interest in developing and selling this drug.
Researchers have announced new details on an antibiotic in development that can treat for most types of drug-resistant bacteria.
Zosurabalpin is a new experimental antibiotic that kills deadly superbug, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB).
Scientists with Swiss drugmaker Roche have identified a novel class of antibiotics that target carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) by inhibiting one of the building blocks of its hard-to-penetrate outer wall.
Zosurabalpin, a clinical candidate from this class called RG6006, was highly effective at treating CRAB isolates both in vitro and in mouse models of infection.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that a new antibiotic has been discovered and developed when it's actually just an announcement of promising results from a study on an existing drug-resistant bacteria called Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB). Secondly, the article states that CRAB is difficult to treat but fails to mention that this difficulty has been known for years and there are already treatments available. Thirdly, the article claims that a new type of antibiotic is showing promising results in treating CRAB when it's actually just an existing drug-resistant bacteria being treated with a different method. The article also uses sensationalism by stating that CRAB accounts for around 2% of U.S. hospital infections, which may be true but doesn't add any value to the article.
The article claims that a new type of antibiotic is showing promising results in treating CRAB when it's actually just an existing drug-resistant bacteria being treated with a different method.
The article states that CRAB is difficult to treat but fails to mention that this difficulty has been known for years and there are already treatments available.
The title implies that a new antibiotic has been discovered and developed when it's actually just an announcement of promising results from a study on an existing drug-resistant bacteria called Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB).
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains an appeal to authority by citing the World Health Organization's classification of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) as a priority pathogen. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing CRAB infections as 'hard to treat'. Additionally, there is an informal fallacy by stating that the FDA has not approved a new class of antibiotic in over half a century without providing any context or evidence for this claim.
Researchers have announced new details on an antibiotic in development that can treat most types of drug-resistant bacteria
Infections caused by the drug-resistant strain have been hard to treat
The FDA has not approved a new class of antibiotic in over half a century, according to researchers.
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The Scripps News Staff has a conflict of interest on the topic of antibiotics and drug-resistant bacteria as they are reporting on new research conducted by Hoffmann-La Roche researchers. The article also mentions Harvard University researchers who were involved in the study.
Harvard University researchers also contributed to the research.
Hoffmann-La Roche researchers were involved in the study.
Researchers from Hoffmann-La Roche have developed a new class of antibiotic that could be effective against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB).
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics provided. The article mentions Harvard University and Hoffmann-La Roche researchers as being involved in the study that led to the development of a new antibiotic for resistant bacteria. These companies have financial interests in developing new drugs and may be biased towards promoting their own products.
