Powerful New Antibiotic Was ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’ For Decades
Researchers have identified a powerful new antibiotic; This important discovery was achieved not by breaking new ground but by revisiting familiar territory.
The pre-methylenomycin C lactone compound was discovered by a team from the University of Warwick in the UK and Monash University in Australia. Although it has never been detected before, it comes from a type of bacteria. scientists have been working on it for decades.
It could potentially help fight bacteria that are becoming increasingly resistant to modern treatments, and it is actually a chemical intermediate created during the making process of another antibiotic. methylenomycin A.
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“Remarkably, the bacteria that make methylenomycin A and pre-methylenomycin C lactone – Streptomyces coelicolor “It is an exemplary antibiotic-producing species that has been extensively studied since the 1950s.” says chemist Lona Alkhalaf from the University of Warwick.
“Finding a new antibiotic in such a familiar organism was a real surprise.”
In laboratory tests, pre-methylenomycin C lactone was shown to be 100 times more effective than methylenomycin A. gram positive bacteriaspecies be smarter It’s about beating our current antibiotics.
Pre-methylenomycin C lactone has been found to be much more potent than methylenomycin A. (Corre et al., J. Am. Chemistry Soc.2025)
The researchers behind the discovery decided to take a closer look at methylenomycin A by altering the genes used in the antibiotic’s assembly line to see what each one did. The resulting compounds, identified as biosynthetic intermediates, were then tested for antibiotic activity.
“Methylenomycin A was first discovered 50 years ago, and although it has been synthesized several times, no one appears to have tested synthetic intermediates for antimicrobial activity.” says Chemist Greg Challis from the University of Warwick.
The team discovered that pre-methylenomycin C lactone was effective against the bacteria responsible for both. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE) are two of the most troublesome infections for available antibiotics.
What’s particularly hopeful is that enterococcus Bacteria exposed to pre-methylenomycin C lactone for 28 days resistant to itThis suggests that the compound may remain effective in the long term.
With experts increasingly concerned about antibiotic resistance, this is already a cause millions of deaths Every year, due to the proliferation of bacteria, the need for new and durable drugs to combat infections is urgent. keep improving.
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Next, we need further preclinical and laboratory testing to fully understand the potential of pre-methylenomycin C lactone as an antibiotic, both in terms of the mechanisms by which it works and the pathogen targets it hits.
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Researchers also see the potential of looking at intermediates. other antibiotics To see if more compounds like this can be found.
“This discovery suggests a new paradigm for antibiotic discovery.” says Challis.
“By identifying and testing intermediates in the pathways to various natural compounds, we can find potent new antibiotics that are more resistant to resistance, which will help us in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.”
The research was published in the journal Journal of the American Chemical Society.
