Sections
Log in
Top News
U.S. News World News Featured Voices
Odd News
Entertainment
Movies Music TV
Sports
Soccer NFL NBA MLB NHL Golf Horse Racing Tennis Col. Football Col. Basketball
Photos
News Entertainment Sports Features Archives
More...
Defense Featured Science Health Archive Almanac
About Feedback
About Feedback
Search
Trending
Jorge Polanco
Border 'emergency'
Haiti
Daytona 500
Smoking ban
Bad candy
India
Fire starter
UPS hijacked
Storm deaths
Food banks
Student loans
'Snowna Lisa'
Health News
June 18, 2018 / 2:40 PM

Scientists find bacteria in soil that may lead to more effective drugs

By
Allen Cone
Researchers believe bacteria found in soil -- similar to the pictured culture of a thiocarboxylic acid producing a strain of bacteria -- may harbor a potential game-changer for drug design. Photo by Shen Lab/The Scripps Research Institute

June 18 (UPI) -- The molecules of bacteria found in soil may lead to the development of better drugs, according to a new study.

Scientists at Scripps Research in Jupiter, Fla., investigated the "natural products" made by organisms such as soil-dwelling bacteria. Findings from these bacteria-derived molecules, which are called thiocarboxylic acids, were published Monday in the journal Nature Communications.

"We use natural products as an inspiration for chemistry, biology and drug discovery," Dr. Ben Shen, professor and co-chairman of the Department of Chemistry at Florida's Scripps Research, said in a press release.

Shen became interested in the acids because they are in nature but similar to lab-made molecules called carboxylic acids.

RELATED Study: Viagra may be tested for treatment of rare cancers

He said they are good "warheads" because they can find biological targets suitable for antibiotics, heart disease medications and other treatment.

The Scripps researchers specifically examined two natural products -- platensimycin and platencin -- which other scientists have investigated as potential antibiotics.

They were surprised to find for the first time they actually are made by bacteria as thiocarboxylic acids after being thought to be carboxylic acids. The researchers then found the exact genes, and the enzymes they encode, that are used by bacteria to create thiocarboxylic acids.

RELATED Study: 1 in 10 children with cancer improve in Phase 1 drug trials

Next, they checked to see if nature-made thiocarboxylic acids could become biological warheads -- finding they bind to their targets better than carboxylic acids.

"That was exciting to see," Shen said. "We've now identified thiocarboxylic acids as natural products that can be used as drugs, and thiocarboxylic acids as warheads should be applicable to man-made drugs as well."

Once thought to be rare, researchers checked databases and found that many species of bacteria around the world have the genes to produce thiocarboxylic acids.

RELATED Analysis of trial data confirms anti-depressants are effective, researchers say

"There are many, many thiocarboxylic acid natural products waiting to be discovered, making them a treasure trove of potential new drug leads or drugs," Shen said.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more UPI news and photos.

Trending Stories

Post-menopausal women who drink diet soda have increased stroke risk
Unfit, obese teen boys at higher risk for chronic disease
Timing of DDT exposure can affect chance for breast cancer
Irregular heartbeat triggers can easily be altered
More U.S. adults reporting chronic pain, study says

Photo Gallery

 
Lunar New Year celebrations in Beijing

Latest News

Branson organizes aid concert on Colombia-Venezuela border
CDC: Flu has sickened nearly 18M in U.S. this season
BtoB singer Ilhoon to release new single 'Spoiler'
Woman wins lottery after brother, friend score jackpots
Supreme Court will hear arguments over citizenship question on 2020 census
 
Back to Article
/
Back to top
About UPI Contact Feedback Advertisements Submit News Tips
Copyright © 2019 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of UsePrivacy Policy