Oral EVG7 prevents recurrence in a mouse mannequin of rCDI. Credit score: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64067-w
The antibiotic EVG7, developed in Leiden, has confirmed able to preventing the harmful intestine bacterium C. difficile with solely a minimal dose. What’s extra, the bacterium is much much less more likely to return, a significant concern with current antibiotics. This analysis was revealed in Nature Communications.
C. difficile is a persistent intestinal bacterium that may trigger extreme sickness, notably in older individuals and people with weakened well being. The bacterium produces a toxin that results in extreme diarrhea. Present remedies will not be at all times efficient, because the an infection typically returns.
The brand new antibiotic EVG7, lately developed in Professor Nathaniel Martin’s analysis group on the Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL), may change that. EVG7 is a stronger and extra environment friendly model of the generally used antibiotic vancomycin.
“With existing antibiotics, C. difficile sometimes reappears just weeks after treatment,” says researcher and lead creator Elma Mons. This occurs partly as a result of the bacterium leaves behind spores, which may turn into new micro organism, inflicting the an infection to return.
A lot decrease dose, but more practical
Mons and her group investigated the impact of EVG7 on C. difficile. As a result of the antibiotic is many occasions stronger than vancomycin, they administered a a lot smaller dose in a research on mice. The outcomes had been putting: the C. difficile micro organism had been far much less more likely to return. A decrease dose of vancomycin didn’t have the identical impact, nor did the next dose of EVG7. A low dose of EVG7 turned out to be the golden mixture.
To know why, the researchers examined the microbiome of the handled mice: the gathering of micro organism residing of their intestines. They discovered that mice given a low dose of EVG7 retained much more helpful micro organism (from the Lachnospiraceae household). “Those bacteria actually protect against C. difficile,” says Mons.
In different phrases: whereas current remedies are likely to kill many micro organism important for good well being, a low dose of EVG7 leaves most of them intact. These helpful micro organism assist stop the an infection from recurring by protecting residual spores from rising into dangerous C. difficile micro organism. “That approach fits a growing trend among doctors to preserve the microbiome as much as possible,” Mons explains.
Decrease threat of resistance
In idea, utilizing decrease antibiotic doses can promote resistance. “That happens when you don’t completely kill the bacteria but merely irritate them,” Mons says. “They can then come back stronger.” That is not the case with EVG7: even a low dose is robust sufficient to kill C. difficile successfully. Furthermore, EVG7 seems much less vulnerable to inducing resistance.
Mons hopes that ample funding will develop into accessible for the following levels of improvement. After the required toxicity research, the drug may very well be examined in people inside just a few years. “But that means finding investors,” she provides. “For antibiotics, that’s not easy. Pharmaceutical companies make far less profit on them than on, say, cancer drugs, so interest is limited.”
Nonetheless, the researchers hope that EVG7 will finally high the record of remedies for C. difficile. “If a patient relapses and needs another hospital admission, that’s costly too,” Mons factors out.
Extra data:
Elma Mons et al, Experimental glycopeptide antibiotic EVG7 prevents recurrent Clostridioides difficile an infection by sparing members of the Lachnospiraceae household, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64067-w
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‘Tremendous antibiotic’ retains harmful intestine bacterium underneath management with a low dose (2025, October 13)
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