CHICAGO,  (Reuters) – Scientists have discovered how  bacteria fend off a wide range of antibiotics, and blocking  that defense mechanism could give existing antibiotics more  power to fight dangerous infections.

Researchers at New York University said yesterday that  bacteria produce certain nitric oxide-producing enzymes to  resist antibiotics.

Drugs that inhibit these enzymes can make antibiotics much  more potent, making even deadly superbugs like  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA succumb,  they said.