Devyani Goswami, Amity University Kolkata
Scientists have been worried due to the growth of antibiotic resistance among the population for decades. As new antibiotics come into the market the rate of developing antibiotic resistance infection goes on increasing. For about more than 500,000 people die worldwide each year due to antibiotic resistance infection. The researchers have come up with the assurity that the venom of the Asian wasp, Vespula lewisii could be used to cure the antibiotic resistance.
The researchers extracted the venom from the wasps and altered a highly toxic small protein molecule, mastoparan-L into a synthetic antimicrobial entity. They altered an N- terminus motif conserved among natural peptides with potent immunomodulatory and antimicrobial activities. “The resulting peptide, mast-MO showed increased antibacterial properties compared to standard-of-care antibiotics both in-vitro and in-vivo, and potentiated the activity of different classes of antibiotics”, according to the authors.
They have conducted their tests on mice infected with incurable and lethal E.coli. Eighty percent of the treated animals survived, while those that received the natural mastoparan-L peptide were on the verge of death. In comparison to mastoparan-L, mast-MO was successfully and safely administered in higher doses.
Will this be a successful discovery that remains behind many trials?
Also read: Ex-situ DNA synthesis accelerated
REFERENCE: 1) Wasp venom used to potentially combat antibiotic-resistance bacteria
2) Repurposing a peptide toxin from wasp venom into anti-infectives with dual antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties – Osmar N. Silva et al.
https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/10/07/2012379117
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