The antibiotic teixobactin has been found to treat many common bacterial infections in mice without resistance, including tuberculosis and septicaemia.
Researchers said the antibiotic could one day be used to treat drug-resistant infections caused by the superbug MRSA, as well as tuberculosis, which normally requires a combination of drugs that can have adverse side effects.
"The discovery of this novel compound challenges long-held scientific beliefs and holds great promise for treating an array of menacing infections," said Professor Kim Lewis from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.
The problem of infections developing drug resistance has worsened in recent years as multi-drug-resistant bugs have developed and drug companies have cut investment.
The World Health Organisation warned last year that a post-antibiotic era, where even basic healthcare becomes dangerous due to risk of infection during routine operations, could come this century unless something drastic is done.
Dr Lewis is the co-founder of the NovoBiotic Pharmaceuticals, which has patented teixobactin. He and his NovoBiotic colleagues sought to address the problem by tapping into new potential sources of antibiotics. They developed a way of growing uncultured bacteria in its natural environment using a miniature device called an iChip that can isolate and help grow single cells.
Scientists not involved in the work welcomed the finding, but cautioned that human trials of teixobactin would be key which Dr Lewis hopes to start in around two years.
