Originally published July 15 2005
Researcher's compound may control bacteria without antibiotics
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Science Daily reports that Hebrew University researcher Dr. Adel Jabbour has developed a compound that can interfere with the communication system of bacteria, which could lead to treatment of bacterial diseases without making future strains resistant (the major drawback of antibiotic use).
For his work, Adel Jabbour will be presented with a Kaye Innovation Award on June 6 during the 68th meeting of the Hebrew University Board of Governors.
Jabbour, a Ph.D. student, conducted his work under the supervision of Prof. Morris Srebnik of the School of Pharmacy and Prof. Doron Steinberg of the Faculty of Dental Medicine.
Most human and animal diseases are associated with bacteria that are assembled in "communities," called biofilms, that attach themselves to many surfaces, such as live tissues, implants and teeth.
Only recently has it been discovered that the bacteria assembled in biofilms have a network of communication between them called "quorum sensing," which controls their collective activity (or lack thereof).
These sensing signals control the physiology and pathogenicity of the bacteria in the biofilms.
A boron-based molecule that is produced by these bacteria, called auto inducer-2, controls the signals in this quorum sensing process.
Jabbour has succeeded in synthesizing modified chemical compounds, resembling the structure of the natural auto inducer-2, that can disrupt the signaling.
By altering the molecular structure in these compounds, Jabbour was able to show that it is possible to control the quorum sensing responses in order to "deceive" the bacteria.
Jabbour, 32, lives in Upper Nazareth with his wife Banan, a pediatric resident in at Hadassah University Hospital-Ein Kerem.
He is a graduate of St. Joseph High School in Nazareth and obtained his undergraduate degree in chemistry at the Hebrew University and his M.Sc. in pharmacy with honor from the Hebrew University School of Pharmacy.
He is currently completing his Ph.D. studies at the School of Pharmacy and the Institute of Dental Sciences at the university under the supervision of Professors Srebnik and Steinberg.
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