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Eliminate Antibiotic Resistance Through Molecular Hijacking

Developing molecular systems that can disable antibiotic resistance mechanisms in bacteria could restore the effectiveness of existing antibiotics and prevent the return to a pre-antibiotic era. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause over 700,000 deaths annually and this number is projected to reach 10 million by 2050 if no action is taken. Current approaches focus on developing new antibiotics, but bacteria rapidly evolve resistance to any single drug. A molecular hijacking approach would target the resistance mechanisms themselves, making bacteria vulnerable to existing treatments again. This could involve molecular machines that disable efflux pumps, degrade resistance enzymes, or interfere with horizontal gene transfer. Success would preserve modern medicine's foundation and save millions of lives. Challenges include the diversity of resistance mechanisms, the need to avoid harming beneficial bacteria, potential for bacteria to develop counter-resistance, and ensuring global accessibility of treatments.

Science, Biology, Molecular Biology