{"id":19840,"date":"2022-11-23T11:21:43","date_gmt":"2022-11-23T10:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/?p=131031"},"modified":"2022-11-24T10:51:32","modified_gmt":"2022-11-24T09:51:32","slug":"artificial-sweeteners-found-in-sugar-free-foods-can-kill-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/artificial-sweeteners-found-in-sugar-free-foods-can-kill-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria\/","title":{"rendered":"Artificial sweeteners found in sugar-free foods can kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Jason Goodyer\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 23 November 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

The key to beating antibiotic-resistant<\/a> bacteria could have been hiding in plain sight on our supermarket shelves.<\/p>\n

Three artificial sweeteners that are commonly used in diet drinks, yoghurts and desserts can dramatically halt the growth of multidrug-resistant bacteria, a study carried out at Brunel University, London has found.<\/p>\n

The bacteria, acinetobacter<\/em> baumannii<\/em> and pseudomonas aeruginosa<\/em>, cause pneumonia and sepsis. They are on the World Health Organization\u2019s (WHO) list of \u2018priority pathogens\u2019 that urgently need new antibiotic treatments thanks to the deadly threat they pose to those with compromised immune systems.<\/p>\n

The sweeteners saccharin, cyclamate and acesulfame-K tested by the team were found to inhibit the growth of the bacteria, with acesulfame-K being particularly effective in preventing the bacteria from developing biofilms that protect them from antibiotics.<\/p>\n

All three were also found to reduce the bacteria\u2019s resistance to common antibiotics, meaning less are needed for effective treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cArtificial sweeteners are present in all diet and sugar-free foods,\u201d said Brunel University London bioscientist Dr Ronan McCarthy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe discovered that these same sweeteners that you have with your coffee or in your \u2018sugar free\u2019 soda could kill very dangerous bacteria and make them easier to treat.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is very exciting because normally it takes billions of dollars and decades to develop a new antibiotic drug, whereas we found a compound which can not only fight the pathogenic bacteria but also reverse its resistance to already existing antibiotics.\u201d<\/p>\n

Antibiotic resistance arises thanks to bacteria\u2019s ability to adapt in response to drugs. It occurs naturally but overprescribing drugs in humans and misuse in animals is accelerating the process. It is currently considered to be one of the biggest threats to global health and food security by the WHO.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has created a dangerous situation where a \u2018post-antibiotic era\u2019 is becoming a reality,\u201d said study leader Dr McCarthy at Brunel\u2019s Centre of Inflammation Research and Translational Medicine.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt threatens all aspects of healthcare, from cancer treatment to dental work.\u201d<\/p>\n

The team now plan to run further tests and are optimistic that all three sweeteners could potentially offer new treatments for multidrug-resistant infection.<\/p>\n