Story perspectives
Polymyxin B Effective Only on Active E. coli Cells
9/30/2025
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Story summary
- The study found polymyxin B kills only actively replicating Escherichia coli, not dormant cells.
- Researchers from University College London (UCL) and Imperial College London used atomic force microscopy to observe this effect.
- Real-time images show the outer membrane bubble and shed under polymyxin B.
- The team suggests combining polymyxin therapy with methods to activate dormant bacteria to improve effectiveness.
