Scientists have synthesized a substance that is 30 times more potent than modern antibiotics
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Scientists managed to synthesize a compound that mammals ceased to produce 59 million years ago. As it turned out, it has an antimicrobial property, and is effective against bacteria that are resistant to most modern drugs.
In this study, a kangaroo of the tamar species, whose genome is very similar to the human, helped and was deciphered in 2008. When observing the kangaroo cubs, scientists suggested that they have a strong immune system, since after birth they climb into the mother's bag, where there are many kinds of bacteria that have the properties of "super bacteria".
Genes that are responsible for the synthesis of 14 antimicrobial proteins of the cathelicidin family (cathelicidin) have been found and studied. Five genes had a very similar structure, which suggested the existence of a common ancestor in these peptides.
Then the scientists restored the original gene, which existed millions of years ago, and synthesized the corresponding peptide, which had a very wide range of action against a large number of bacteria and was called WAM (wallaby antimicrobial).
In laboratory conditions this substance (antibiotic) destroyed 6 out of 7 species of bacteria with multiple drug resistance. Moreover, it turned out to be 30 times more powerful than the modern antibiotic - tetracycline.
Specialists suggest that these ancient molecules can be more effective than existing antibiotics, because bacteria have not faced these substances for millions of years, and even if they developed resistance to them, they were safely forgotten over the years.
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