Uncovering novel antibiotics hidden in ancient microorganisms via artificial intelligence.
Archaea, the Earth's oldest life forms, are making waves in the scientific community with their unique ability to thrive in harsh environments. These organisms, which can survive under extreme temperatures and toxic chemicals, are proving to be a promising source of new molecular tools for antibiotic development.
A recent study published in the journal Nature Microbiology, led by César de la Fuente, a Presidential Associate Professor in various fields including bioengineering, psychiatry, microbiology, and chemistry, has shed light on these ancient organisms. The study, which analysed 233 species of Archaea, yielded over 12,000 antibiotic candidates, named "archaeasins."
The researchers, including Prof. Hans-Peter Grossart, who contributed to research on freshwater Fontibacterium, and Fangping Wan, a postdoctoral fellow in de la Fuente's lab, used artificial intelligence to identify these previously unknown compounds. Wan stated that AI speeds up the process of finding new antibiotics by identifying where the promising candidates are likely to be.
The distribution of electric charge in archaeasins differs from known antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), making them a potentially valuable addition to the arsenal against antibiotic resistance. The researchers selected 80 archaeasins for testing against actual bacteria.
Previous efforts to find new antibiotics have mainly focused on fungi, bacteria, and animals. However, the unique biology of Archaea makes them a promising but largely untapped source of new molecular tools. The study on Archaea, therefore, represents a significant step forward in the search for new antibiotics.
Fangping Wan compared the traditional process of finding new antibiotics to looking for needles in a haystack. With the use of AI, the researchers were able to narrow down the search, making the process more efficient and effective.
The study, published in Nature Microbiology, highlights Archaea as a new resource in the fight against antibiotic resistance. The findings suggest that these ancient organisms could play a crucial role in the development of next-generation antibiotics, offering hope in the battle against the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
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