A smelly frog known as Odorrana andersonii It gave rise to a powerful antibiotic that helps the intestines in the fight against superbacteria.
Throughout their evolution, frogs have developed remarkable mechanisms of defense against bacteria flocks that develop in their moist environments.
A new study, this Tuesday in Trends in Biotechnology suggests the creation of synthetic peptides, a class of antibiotics, derived from the secretions of a common frog in southern Asia.
“Amphibians live in very rich microbes. Very rarely infected, although they are surrounded by microbes, so they have to produce antimicrobial compounds,” he explained Cesar de la FuenteProfessor of Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, Ao.
In 2012, Chinese scientists had already discovered that the Odorrana andersoniia kind of frog described for the first time in the late nineteenth century, segregates a peptide with antimicrobial activity, called Andersonnin-D1.
This peptide tends to form cluster, increasing the likelihood of toxic side effects and reducing its effectiveness in combating bacteria, which makes it inadequate for clinical use.
However, in the new article, the researchers demonstrated the way “Conception guided by the structure” – Process that involves thorough changes in the chemical structure of the peptide – Allows you to get several candidates for antibiotics without the inconvenience of the unlipped peptide.
“With the conception guided by the structure, We change the sequence of the molecule“Study co -author Marcelo Torres details.
New Medicine Ally
As explained by, after going through two stages of conception guided by the structure, the researchers tested the resulting synthetic peptides against a series of bacteria.
In preclinical models, the team found that the new compounds were so effective such as the last resort antibiotics, such as polymyxin Bto combat harmful bacteria, without affecting human cells or the beneficial intestinal bacteria.
The researchers developed and tested their peptides not only in individual cultures, but also in more complex bacterial communities, which allowed them to measure the effects in a more realistic microbial environment.
If additional preclinical tests are going well, researchers will submit peptides to studies of qualification of new investigative drugs (IND), the last step before requesting the approval of US food and medicine administration-when drugs can be tested clinically.
“We are excited that frogs can inspire new molecules that can be developed in antibiotics. Engineering power allows us to take these natural molecules and turn them into something more useful for humanity,” says De La Fuente.
