Scientists have identified a previously unknown aspect of the immune system that could pave the way for new antibiotics.
According to researchers, a part of the body responsible for recycling proteins has an alternative function — producing bacteria-killing compounds, as per a BBC report. This discovery could significantly impact the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections.
Proteasome and its role in immunity
The study, conducted by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and published in Nature, focuses on proteasome, a structure found in every cell. Traditionally, proteasome is known for breaking down old proteins into reusable components.
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However, the research team found that when a cell is infected by bacteria, proteasome alters its function. Instead of merely recycling proteins, it repurposes them into antimicrobial molecules capable of destroying bacteria by attacking their outer layers.
Professor Yifat Merbl, one of the lead researchers, described the finding as groundbreaking. “This is really exciting, because we never knew that this was happening. We discovered a novel mechanism of immunity that is allowing us to have a defence against bacterial infection. It’s happening throughout our body in all the cells, and generates a whole new class of potential natural antibiotics,” she told the BBC.
Potential for new antibiotics
With the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, this discovery offers a new avenue for developing treatments. The researchers conducted a series of tests on bacterial cultures in the laboratory and on mice suffering from pneumonia and sepsis.
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The results demonstrated that these naturally occurring antimicrobial molecules were as effective as some existing antibiotics.
Additionally, when the researchers disabled the proteasome in lab-grown cells, they observed that bacteria such as salmonella could affect them more easily. This highlights proteasome’s crucial role in immune defence.
Expert reactions and future implications
Professor Daniel Davis, an immunologist at Imperial College London, described the research as “extremely provocative and very interesting,” adding that it fundamentally changes our understanding of the immune system.
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However, he also cautioned that while the findings are promising, more research is needed to determine whether they can be developed into viable antibiotic treatments.
Dr Lindsey Edwards, a microbiology expert as King’s College London, highlighted the significance of the discovery. “It is a potential goldmine for new antibiotics, that’s quite exciting,” she said.
She also noted that since these antimicrobial molecules originate from within the human body, the safety concerns surrounding drug development might be reduced compared to synthetic antibiotics.
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Hope for combating antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is a growing global crisis, with over a million deaths annually attributed to drug-resistant infections. Despite the urgent need, research into new antibiotics has been slow.
This discovery, however, presents a fresh approach, offering scientists an entirely new biological source for antibiotic development.
As research progresses, scientists remain optimistic that this newfound aspect of the immune system could help address the urgent challenge of antibiotic resistance, potentially leading to life-saving treatments in the future.
(With inputs from BBC)
