UZH researches the antibiotic effect of thanatin

(CONNECT) Antibiotic resistance is increasing alarmingly worldwide. According to a statement from the University of Zurich (UZH), more than 1 million people die every year from bacterial infections that cannot be treated with conventional antibiotics. Researchers at UZH led by chemist Oliver Zerbe are currently working on active substances that can counteract resistance. They use thanatin as a starting substance. According to the press release, this is an antibiotic natural substance produced by tree bugs, which use it to defend themselves against bacteria.

Thanatin in its natural form is not sufficient to protect people against bacterial infections. The active substance must be chemically modified. The UZH researchers working with Zerbe are focusing on a new class of antibiotics, Outer Membrane Protein Targeting Antibiotics - OMPTA. These are designed to destroy the outer protein shell of dangerous gram-negative bacteria so that they can then attack the bacterium. Thanatin proved to be an effective starting material. In a first step, the active substance should be able to attack two resistant bacterial strains. In another, the researchers are looking for a platform that can be used to continuously adapt thanatin to new target bacteria.

The project is currently supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the UZH Foundation. We are looking for a pharmaceutical company that is interested in the new active ingredient and is prepared to finance expensive test phases. "Follow-up funding after basic research at universities is the major challenge in the development of new antibiotics," Oliver Zerbe is quoted as saying in the press release. ce/ww