Bacteria also defend themselves against pathogen attacks using mechanisms like those of the immune system. But if there is a system to repel an attack, it can also be dismantled. Scientists at the University of Southampton have described the components of Kiwa, a protein complex that blocks the entry of phage DNA, which are viruses that infect bacteria. They have also uncovered how Kiwa interacts with other bacterial defense strategies.

Around 10 million people globally live with the life-threatening human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1), yet it remains a poorly understood disease that currently has no preventative treatments and no cure. That could soon change after Australian researchers discovered that existing HIV drugs can suppress transmission of the HTLV-1 virus in mice.

Centauri Therapeutics Ltd. and Kinvard Bio Inc. have separately announced new funding from CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator). The funds will support Centauri's ABX-01 program for multidrug-resistant bacterial strains and Kinvard Bio's oxepanoprolinamides program targeting lower respiratory tract infections as well as skin and soft tissue infections.

Azole antifungal agents are widely used to treat invasive fungal infections (IFIs), which are life-threatening in immunocompromised patients such as those undergoing chemotherapy, transplantation or intensive care.

SHEN-211 is a selective 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) inhibitor that can protect against SARS-CoV-2. In previous work, SHEN-211 demonstrated high efficacy in inhibiting 3CLpro (IC50=24 nM) and exhibited broad-spectrum antiviral properties.

SK Bioscience Ltd. announced that the company has submitted an investigational new drug (IND) application to the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.