Antibiotics found in frogs could offer a new alternative in the fight against superbacteria, According to a study published Tuesday in the magazine Trends in Biotechnology and led by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania (USA). The team, which did their work in laboratory experiments and animal models, found in these amphibians a “unconventional” source for the possible obtaining of innovative treatments that respond to “the pressing need” of solutions against resistant bacteria.
Specifically, synthetic peptides developed, obtained from natural compounds found in the kind of Odorrana Andersonii frog. These molecules show a “promising potential” in the fight against bacterial infections Gram-negative, always difficult to treat. The amphibians, such as frogs, use powerful antimicrobial peptides as the first line of defense against infections, details a statement.
Inspired by these natural molecules, researchers developed synthetic versions specifically adapted to combat gram-negative pathogens. By modifying key features, such as the capacity of the molecules to join the bacterial membranes (hydrophobicity) and their electric charge, the equipment managed to create compounds that aggressively attack harmful bacteriawithout affecting healthy human cells or the intestine microbiota.
The design used has allowed “to create synthetic peptides with a specific approach in harmful pathogens, which It allows minimizing unwanted effects“The researcher Angela Cesaro has indicated. For her, this method also decreases the risk of resistance and offers” a more sophisticated alternative to conventional antibiotics. “
These synthetic peptides were effective in laboratory experiments and preclinical animal models, obtaining results similar to those of established antibiotics such as polymixin B and levofloxacin. Besides, Initial findings suggest that these peptides do not seem to stimulate antibiotic resistance“an especially encouraging advantage”, since conventional medications lose effectiveness against bacteria that adapt rapidly.
For Lucía Ageitos Castiñeiras, another of the researchers, in contrast to conventional broad spectrum antibiotics, their peptides “are specifically directed to gram-negative pathogens, while keeping gram-positive bacteria intact and the beneficial microorganisms of the intestine.” “This is a rare and valuable feature that could lead to the development of more precise and advanced antimicrobial therapies“He added.
The Spanish César de la Fuente, who leads the investigation, has affirmed that these synthetic peptides have demonstrated a notable potential in preclinical trials and could, in the future, cover “the gaps left by failed antibiotics”. “By inspiring ourselves in nature, we aspire to develop effective therapies that avoid resistance problems,” said the group’s scientist ‘Machine Biology’ at the University of Pennsylvania.
In work, bioengineering, synthetic biology and computational modeling converge, an intersection that has produced a new class of antimicrobial candidates. The study supposes “an important step “towards safer and precise treatments, reducing the risk of promoting the appearance of new superbacteria, according to scientists.
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