Researchers Discover Ancient Bacteria Strain That Resists 10 Modern Antibiotics

Source: Slashdot

Background

CNN reports on a 13,000‑year‑old glacier in a Romanian cave, where scientists say a bacterial strain they thawed and analyzed is resistant to 10 modern antibiotics used to treat diseases such as urinary tract infections and tuberculosis. (source)

There is no evidence the bacteria is harmful to humans, and the scientists noted that the insights gained may help in the fight against modern superbugs that cannot be treated by commonly used antibiotics. (source)

Findings

Analysis of the Psychrobacter SC65A.3 genome revealed 11 genes that are potentially able to kill or stop the growth of other bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Matthew Holland, a postdoctoral researcher in medicinal chemistry at the UK’s University of Oxford, explained that researchers are now exploring extreme environments—such as ice caves and the seafloor—for biomolecules that could be developed into new antibiotic drugs. He was not involved in the new study.

“The team in Romania found this particular bug had resistance to 10 reasonably advanced synthetic antibiotics and that in itself is interesting,” Holland said. “But what they report as well is that it secreted molecules that were able to kill a variety of already resistant, harmful bacteria. So the hope is that we can look at the molecules it makes and see if there’s the possibility within those molecules to make new antibiotics.”

Implications

The discovery of a multi‑antibiotic‑resistant ancient bacterium that also produces antimicrobial compounds could provide novel leads for developing new antibiotics to combat resistant pathogens.