A study by US scientists has found that FP 100 (Hygromycin A), a first-in-class, small molecule, narrow-spectrum antibiotic, successfully eradicates Fusobacterium nucleatum, a key pathogen triggering the onset of periodontitis, without harming the oral or gut microbiomes.
“This type of black and white data almost never happens,” said study lead Dr Alpdogan Kantarci, at ADA Forsyth, in Cambridge MA.
“The results were so clear. With FP 100, we can eliminate Fusobacterium nucleatum from the oral cavity, reverse tissue destruction and prevent disease progression without harming the beneficial microbiome.”
The team—whose findings are published in the Journal of Oral Microbiology—demonstrated the drug was effective both in vitro and in a mouse model of periodontal disease.
One of the most exciting findings in this study is that the antibiotic is effective at targeting just Fusobacteria without harming beneficial bacteria necessary for maintaining human health.
Periodontal disease has long been a challenge to treat effectively because antibiotics typically wipe out both harmful and beneficial bacteria.
“Often, antibiotics treating that disease will also kill all the bacteria that aid in preventing overpopulation of pathogens,” Dr Kantarci said.
“With the increase of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, being able to kill a dangerous pathogen with a narrow-spectrum antimicrobial drug candidate represents a significant paradigm shift in antibiotic development. Eliminating that key pathogen is a very important strategy to control the disease.”
