New compounds combat bacteria's defenses

Using microwave assisted chemistry, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have learned how to design compounds that prevent bacteria from attacking the host body and creating a thin film that makes the bacteria resistant to current therapies. The technique to create "conversation stoppers" cripples the ability of bacteria to do damage. The researchers, who presented their work at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society, say that the approach could offer an entirely new way to stop deadly bacterial infections as doctors are grappling with a new generation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In particular, researchers hope that the approach can be used to combat a particularly lethal strain of tuberculosis that is now spreading around the globe.

- check out the report on bacteria from The Guardian