New glycopeptide antibiotic was discovered in bacteria -resistant combat

An international team of researchers, led by the University of Vienna and the Helmholtz Pharmaceutical Research Institute, has discovered Saarland Saarland, discovered saarvienin aA new type of antibiotic glycopepepid. Their findings, now published in Agewandte Chemie International EditionEnter a compound with strong activity against extremely durable bacterial strains.

Resistant to antibiotic infections are increasing, threatening to even make common diseases deadly again. Without new antibiotics, experts warn that up to 100 million lives could be lost annually by 2050. In search of new associations, researchers from various institutions, including the universities of Vienna and the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research. Rifamycin and Chelocardin. Jaime Felipe Guerrero Garzón from the Department of Pharmacist in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Vienna, discovered strong antibiotic activity in extracts from a strain Amycolatopsis isolated from a Chinese mine of rare land, which caused further research. Martin Zehl, head of the Mass Spectrome Center at the University of Vienna, discovered that this antibiotic activity was associated with a potentially new union of class glycopeptides. Using mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy (NMR), the hips cooperation has identified a completely new molecule: saarvienin a.

Breaking the rules: a glycopeptide with a twist

Saarvienin aThe special feature became clear early: Unlike established glycopepeptides such as vancomycin, the new compound does not bind the typical bacterial target involved in the synthesis of cell walls. Instead, it probably acts through a different, unresolved mechanism so far. The structural analysis revealed a discreet architecture: a core of peptide core circled through an unusual Ureido connection, decorated with a chain of five sugar and aminosugar units – two of which are completely new to natural products. “We were excited to find it saarvienin a It does not fit into any known category, “said Jaime Felipe Guerrero.” Its unique structure could pave the way for antibiotics that bacteria have never met before. “

A powerful weapon against resistant bacteria

In close cooperation, hip researchers, led by the corresponding author Rolf Müller, described his biological activity saarvienin aIts name by Saarbrücken and Vienna. Tests of the new bacteria molecule were particularly focused on “eskape pathogens” – an infamous superbugs group known to avoid most current antibiotics. The Union has shown remarkable academy against vancomycin resistant Enterococcal and methicillin -resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), including 3 Eskape pathogens and 26 clinical isolated executives. Vancomycin depends firmly, even strains that are already resistant to many other antibiotics. “The discovery of a new antibiotic is just the beginning,” said corresponding author Sergey B. Zotchev of the University of Vienna. “We are now facing the fascinating challenge to improve it in a drug candidate suitable for clinical use.”

Next steps: Mechanics for Clinic

With the biocompatible genes for saarvienin a It has already been recognized and cloned, the international team plans to use pharmaceutical chemistry and biosynthetic engineering to optimize the molecule. A key goal is to reduce cytotoxicity while maintaining antibacterial activity. Although they remain challenges, the discovery of saarvienin a It provides a very necessary impulse to the fight against resistance to antibiotics-and emphasizes the possibility of unexplored natural sources.