I found a great article in Science Daily, dated Feburary 13th, 2012 that discusses how scientists at North Carolina State University have discovered a compound that makes antibiotics more effective in eliminating antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria that have recently emerged. Researchers discuss how it is more difficult to effectively eradicate gram-negative bacteria because they have the ability to effectively neutralize the antibiotic treatments that are currently available. Dr. Roberta Worthington and Dr. Christian Melander, NCSU researchers, claim that they have developed "a compound that, when used in conjunction with the antibiotic imipenem, increased the antibiotic's effectiveness against the antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae 16-fold" (ScienceDaily, 2012). 

In this research they tested that secondary metabolite antibiotics function as weapons in predation. To test that, Myxococcus xanthus Δta1 mutant, blocked in antibiotic TA (myxovirescin) production, was constructed. The TA- mutant was defective in producing a zone of inhibition against E.Coli. After testing based on their observation they concluded that myxobacterial antibiotic production can function as a predatory weapon. “To conserve material and increase effective concentrations, we speculate that myxobacteria can sense their environment to regulate the production and secretion of antibiotics for judicious use”.

Source:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165673/

Myxobacteria are soil dwelling gram-negative gliding bacteria, which form fruiting bodies containing resistant myxospores. Although they produce a wide range of antibiotics and lytic enzymes, their role in controlling plant pathogens has received little attention. Myxobacteria exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on both pathogenic and beneficial fungal growth in vitro although the degree of inhibition varied with the species tested. During the feeding of myxobacterium, individual cells organize in waves which traveled in a rippling motion. As the waves of the cells collide, they aggregate in mounds that grow in size forming fruiting bodies that can form into many more. Cells within these structures become myxospores.  They triggered by signaling at the cell-cell interaction when nutrients are available and myxospores germinate to eventually develop new swarms. To control these processes, myxobacteria have evolved a unique mechanism of extracellular and intracellular signals including diverse proteins and small metabolites. According to the study, the amount of different small molecules from myxobacteria targeting other soil bacteria and fungi, around 29% and 54% respectively, and their higher production rates during exponential growth seems to reinforce the idea of a broad use of secondary metabolites for hunting. Myxobacteria have been discovered as important bacteria for drag target delivery.

http://www.microbialcellfactories.com/content/pdf/1475-2859-11-52.pdf

"A group of Chinese and Australian scientists have developed a handheld, battery-powered plasma-producing device that can rid skin of bacteria in an instant."  This device can we used in several situations where treatment is needed. In the experiment, the plasma flashlight effectively inactivated a thick biofilm of one of the most antibiotic- and heat-resistant bacteria, This bacteria was, Enterococcus faecalis which is a bacterium which often infects the root canals during dental treatments.  Results from the experiment showed that the plasma did not only inactivate the top layer of cells but penetrated to the very bottom killing the bacteria.   The device is inexpensive and and can we easily made.   There is no damage done to the skin with this device, it is made with resistors that prevents it from becoming hot.  However the exact mechanism behind the anit-bacterial effect of plasma in unknown there are some thoughts and reasoning.  

READ ARTICLE:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120404210005.htm