Israeli discovery opens up ‘new class of potential natural antibiotics’
Research published in the journal Nature says the development could help tackle the growing problem of superbugs which resist existing drugs
Scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science have discovered a new part of the immune system which provides researchers with a new place to look for antibiotics, according to a new study.
Research published in the journal Nature says the development could help tackle the growing problem of superbugs which resist existing drugs.
According to the study, researchers in Israel discovered a part of the body known to recycle proteins can also generate bacteria-killing chemicals.
The authors of the study said the discovery “could provide an untapped source of natural antibiotics for biotechnological applications and therapeutic interventions in infectious diseases and immunocompromised conditions”.
Professor Yifat Merbl, from the Weizmann Institute of Science, told the BBC: “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 defense against bacterial infection.
“It’s happening throughout our body in all the cells, and generates a whole new class of potential natural antibiotics.”
The research focused on a specific part of the cell called the proteasome, which carves old proteins into smaller chunks so they can be recycled to make new ones.
Through a series of experiments, scientists discovered the proteasome can also detect when a cell has been infected by bacteria.
It then reacts by changing structure and role, transforming old proteins into weapons that can pierce the outer layer of bacteria to kill them.
Dr Lindsey Edwards, a senior lecturer in microbiology at King’s College London, described the discovery as a “potential goldmine”.
She told the BBC: “It’s a potential goldmine for new antibiotics, that’s quite exciting.
“In previous years it’s been digging up soil (to find new antibiotics), it is wild that it’s something we have within us, but comes down to having the technology to be able to detect these things.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
