A molecule identified and synthesized by researchers at the Butantan Institute, called Doderlina, proved to be effective in combating different superbugs and fungi, according to a study published in the scientific journal Research in Microbiology.
Extracted from Lactobacillus acidophilus, a bacterium that inhabits the human microbiota, the compound is non-toxic and has the potential to become a new antibiotic in the future, capable of helping to fight resistant infections, especially gastrointestinal and pulmonary infections.
Superbug resistance is considered one of the 10 biggest threats to public health by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its main cause is the indiscriminate use of antibiotics.
With 1.2 million deaths caused by resistant bacteria each year and almost 5 million indirectly associated deaths, the organization estimates that the problem could cost the global economy 100 trillion dollars by 2050. Therefore, it highlights that it is necessary to expand the development of new antibiotics as soon as possible.
What does it take for Doderlina to become a medicine?
In tests in the Butantan laboratory, the new compound fought bacteria that have already been widely reported as multi-resistant microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The first is associated with the gastrointestinal and urinary tract and neonatal meningitis, and the second can cause lung and gastrointestinal infections.
Doderlina was even effective against the fungus Candida albicans, which causes candidiasis and is known for its ability to cause recurrent infections. Candida infection is one of the most common in immunosuppressed people, and some strains have shown resistance against standard antifungals.
The researchers’ hypothesis is that the molecule could be used both in the pharmaceutical industry, for the development of medicines, and in the food industry, to prevent contamination and treat infected animals.
“Antimicrobial peptides are compounds synthesized by all forms of life, with the aim of protecting themselves from threats and increasing their competitiveness to survive in a specific environment”, explains researcher Pedro Ismael da Silva Junior, coordinator of the study that is the subject of master’s degree in Biotechnology by student Bruna Souza da Silva.
For the research to advance, the team is now looking for partnerships to develop tests on animals and, in case of positive results, reach the clinical testing stage. According to Silva Junior, there is a long way to go, of years, before a potential medicine can leave the bench and be made available on the market.
Another stage of the research is to analyze which parts of the molecule’s sequence are most relevant for the therapeutic action to occur. To this end, doctoral student Elias Jorge Muniz, also supervised by Silva Junior, is fragmenting and synthesizing Doderlina, to evaluate the activity and toxicity of its fragments separately.
The objective is to make the molecule smaller and, consequently, cheaper, more effective and safer. “The more amino acids the molecule has (that is, the larger it is), the greater the risk of it provoking an antibody response, an immune system reaction”, points out Silva Junior.
A molecule identified and synthesized by researchers at the Butantan Institute, called Doderlina, proved to be effective in combating different superbugs and fungi, according to a study published in the scientific journal Research in Microbiology.
Extracted from Lactobacillus acidophilus, a bacterium that inhabits the human microbiota, the compound is non-toxic and has the potential to become a new antibiotic in the future, capable of helping to fight resistant infections, especially gastrointestinal and pulmonary infections.
Superbug resistance is considered one of the 10 biggest threats to public health by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its main cause is the indiscriminate use of antibiotics.
With 1.2 million deaths caused by resistant bacteria each year and almost 5 million indirectly associated deaths, the organization estimates that the problem could cost the global economy 100 trillion dollars by 2050. Therefore, it highlights that it is necessary to expand the development of new antibiotics as soon as possible.
What does it take for Doderlina to become a medicine?
In tests in the Butantan laboratory, the new compound fought bacteria that have already been widely reported as multi-resistant microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The first is associated with the gastrointestinal and urinary tract and neonatal meningitis, and the second can cause lung and gastrointestinal infections.
Doderlina was even effective against the fungus Candida albicans, which causes candidiasis and is known for its ability to cause recurrent infections. Candida infection is one of the most common in immunosuppressed people, and some strains have shown resistance against standard antifungals.
The researchers’ hypothesis is that the molecule could be used both in the pharmaceutical industry, for the development of medicines, and in the food industry, to prevent contamination and treat infected animals.
“Antimicrobial peptides are compounds synthesized by all forms of life, with the aim of protecting themselves from threats and increasing their competitiveness to survive in a specific environment”, explains researcher Pedro Ismael da Silva Junior, coordinator of the study that is the subject of master’s degree in Biotechnology by student Bruna Souza da Silva.
For the research to advance, the team is now looking for partnerships to develop tests on animals and, in case of positive results, reach the clinical testing stage. According to Silva Junior, there is a long way to go, of years, before a potential medicine can leave the bench and be made available on the market.
Another stage of the research is to analyze which parts of the molecule’s sequence are most relevant for the therapeutic action to occur. To this end, doctoral student Elias Jorge Muniz, also supervised by Silva Junior, is fragmenting and synthesizing Doderlina, to evaluate the activity and toxicity of its fragments separately.
The objective is to make the molecule smaller and, consequently, cheaper, more effective and safer. “The more amino acids the molecule has (that is, the larger it is), the greater the risk of it provoking an antibody response, an immune system reaction”, points out Silva Junior.
