By Susanne Thiele
Most antibiotics used clinically are based on natural compounds produced by bacteria and other microorganisms. At the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), researchers are using soil-dwelling myxobacteria as a source of new active ingredients. They are able to discover new active compounds primarily in bacteria that have not yet been extensively studied.
Through decades of work, a HIPS research team has significantly expanded the biological diversity of myxobacteria. The team is now making these microorganisms and their genetic data available to the entire research community, as they provide the basis for discovering new bioactive compounds. The researchers published their findings in the journal Advanced Science.
An overlooked source of antibiotics
The threat posed by antibiotic resistance is growing worldwide. Research into new active compounds is therefore of the utmost importance to ensure that bacterial infections can continue to be treated effectively in the future. Natural compounds play a crucial role in this regard.
Compared with other microorganisms, myxobacteria remain relatively unexplored, increasing the likelihood of interesting discoveries. After all, the greater the biological diversity of the bacteria studied, the greater the chance they produce previously unknown candidate active compounds.
In the published study, the researchers describe 118 new myxobacteria, as well as their sequenced genomes. In doing so, they significantly expand the available genomic resources. HIPS is a site of the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI) in collaboration with Saarland University.
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