Story perspectives

New RNA Discovery Offers Hope Against Antibiotic Resistance

12/19/2025

Summary

Story summary

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem identified an RNA molecule called PreS that lets bacteriophages control and destroy bacteria, a finding by Dr. Sahar Melamed (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) linked to antibiotic resistance and 1.27 million deaths in 2019.
The study appeared in Molecular Cell and included collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
The Israel Phage Therapy Center, established in 2018, has treated various microbial infections using phages.

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Story summary

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem identified an RNA molecule called PreS that lets bacteriophages control and destroy bacteria, a finding by Dr. Sahar Melamed (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) linked to antibiotic resistance and 1.27 million deaths in 2019.
The study appeared in Molecular Cell and included collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
The Israel Phage Therapy Center, established in 2018, has treated various microbial infections using phages.