A study recently, published in the Nature Structure and Molecular Biology, has revealed that a pumping by a protein complex called TAM can be disrupted by the development of some new drugs to stop bugs from causing infection.

A group of surveyors from the Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, had conducted a research to find what causes bacteria to resist antibiotics currently available. The survey led them to conclude that it is far better to disarm bugs rather to kill them.

During the study, it was noted by the team that TAM (Translocation and Assembly Module), which is a protein complex and is responsible for forming a type of molecular pump in bacteria, was found in most disease-causing bugs. It was discovered in microorganisms causing whooping cough and meningitis as well as hospital-acquired bacteria that do not react to antibiotics.

TAM is made up of two protein parts, TamA and TamB, which collectively function to form a machine of molecular scale, the team affirmed. It has been told that the protein allows such bacteria to carry the disease-causing molecules from bacterial cell to the outside surface, thereby allowing them to cause infection. It is being believed by the team that if bacteria’s progression is hampered by antibiotic treatment, the emergence of antibiotic resistance could also be averted.

“TAM is a good antibacterial target because a drug designed to inhibit TAM function would unlikely kill bacteria, but simply deprive them of their molecular weaponry, and in doing so, disable the disease process”, said Joel Selkrig, of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

As per his statement, the latest study would prove extremely helpful in future studies and researches, helping researchers to design new drugs to successfully restrain the pump process.