This powerful new antibiotic comes from microbial ‘dark matter’

Scientists discovered the new drug in a bacterium found in sandy soil. Its name is Clovibactin - from the Greek for ‘cage’. This new antibiotic works in a unique way, stopping bacteria building new cell walls. Clovibactin attacks a broad spectrum of pathogens including the superbug Staphylococcus aureus. It doesn’t resemble any known antibiotic, so pathogens can’t have built up resistance. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health threat. In 2019, 1.3 million people died as a direct result of AMR, more than from AIDS or malaria.