Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have made a breakthrough in combating antimicrobial resistance, which led to an estimated 260,000 deaths in India in 2021. Instead of developing new antibiotics, they focused on reviving older ones, specifically macrolides like azithromycin and erythromycin. These antibiotics target the bacterial ribosome, but bacteria have developed resistance through Erm enzymes that modify the ribosome, preventing antibiotic attachment. The IIT Bombay team, including researchers Leena Badgujar, Damini Sahu, Ruchi Anand, and Pradeepkumar PI, discovered that short DNA strands known as aptamers could bind to the Erm42 enzyme, preventing the bacteria from altering the ribosome. To deliver these aptamers effectively, they engineered liposomes—tiny fat bubbles that mimic cell membranes—allowing over 90% uptake of the aptamers in antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This combination significantly increased bacterial cell death compared to antibiotics alone. This innovative method not only extends the lifespan of existing antibiotics but also reduces the need for new drug development, which is often lengthy and costly. Professor Anand emphasized that enhancing existing drugs may be a more practical and safer route to tackle antibiotic resistance.