Mursamacin: a novel class of antibiotics from soil-dwelling roundworms of Central Kenya that inhibits methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [version 1; referees: 2 approved]

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, also called “superbugs”, can at worst retrogress modern medicine to an era where even sore throats resulted in death. A solution is the development of novel types of antibiotics from untapped natural sources. Yet, no new class of antibiotic has been developed in clinic...

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Main Authors: Ryan Musumba Awori, Peter Njenga Ng'ang'a, Lorine Nanjala Nyongesa, Nelson Onzere Amugune
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2016-10-01
Series:F1000Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://f1000research.com/articles/5-2431/v1
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author Ryan Musumba Awori
Peter Njenga Ng'ang'a
Lorine Nanjala Nyongesa
Nelson Onzere Amugune
author_facet Ryan Musumba Awori
Peter Njenga Ng'ang'a
Lorine Nanjala Nyongesa
Nelson Onzere Amugune
author_sort Ryan Musumba Awori
collection DOAJ
description Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, also called “superbugs”, can at worst retrogress modern medicine to an era where even sore throats resulted in death. A solution is the development of novel types of antibiotics from untapped natural sources. Yet, no new class of antibiotic has been developed in clinical medicine in the last 30 years. Here, bacteria from insect-killing Steinernema roundworms in the soils of Central Kenya were isolated and subjected to specific molecular identification. These were then assayed for production of antibiotic compounds with potential to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. The bacteria were identified as Xenorhabdus griffiniae and produced cell free supernatants that inhibited S. aureus. Fermenting the bacteria for 4 days yielded a heat stable anti-staphylococcal class of compounds that at low concentrations also inhibited methicillin-resistant S. aureus. This class contained two major compounds whose identity remains unknown. Thus X. griffinae isolated from Steinernema roundworms in Kenya have antimicrobial potential and may herald novel and newly sourced potential medicines for treatment of the world’s most prevalent antibiotic resistant bacteria.
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spelling doaj.art-a54f41b02a2d4b4a9e2369caae8374552022-12-22T00:48:25ZengF1000 Research LtdF1000Research2046-14022016-10-01510.12688/f1000research.9652.110401Mursamacin: a novel class of antibiotics from soil-dwelling roundworms of Central Kenya that inhibits methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [version 1; referees: 2 approved]Ryan Musumba Awori0Peter Njenga Ng'ang'a1Lorine Nanjala Nyongesa2Nelson Onzere Amugune3Trek Science, P.O Box 44947-00100, Nairobi, KenyaTrek Science, P.O Box 44947-00100, Nairobi, KenyaTrek Science, P.O Box 44947-00100, Nairobi, KenyaSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, P. O Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, KenyaAntibiotic-resistant bacteria, also called “superbugs”, can at worst retrogress modern medicine to an era where even sore throats resulted in death. A solution is the development of novel types of antibiotics from untapped natural sources. Yet, no new class of antibiotic has been developed in clinical medicine in the last 30 years. Here, bacteria from insect-killing Steinernema roundworms in the soils of Central Kenya were isolated and subjected to specific molecular identification. These were then assayed for production of antibiotic compounds with potential to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. The bacteria were identified as Xenorhabdus griffiniae and produced cell free supernatants that inhibited S. aureus. Fermenting the bacteria for 4 days yielded a heat stable anti-staphylococcal class of compounds that at low concentrations also inhibited methicillin-resistant S. aureus. This class contained two major compounds whose identity remains unknown. Thus X. griffinae isolated from Steinernema roundworms in Kenya have antimicrobial potential and may herald novel and newly sourced potential medicines for treatment of the world’s most prevalent antibiotic resistant bacteria.https://f1000research.com/articles/5-2431/v1Antimicrobials & Drug ResistanceEnvironmental Microbiology
spellingShingle Ryan Musumba Awori
Peter Njenga Ng'ang'a
Lorine Nanjala Nyongesa
Nelson Onzere Amugune
Mursamacin: a novel class of antibiotics from soil-dwelling roundworms of Central Kenya that inhibits methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [version 1; referees: 2 approved]
F1000Research
Antimicrobials & Drug Resistance
Environmental Microbiology
title Mursamacin: a novel class of antibiotics from soil-dwelling roundworms of Central Kenya that inhibits methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [version 1; referees: 2 approved]
title_full Mursamacin: a novel class of antibiotics from soil-dwelling roundworms of Central Kenya that inhibits methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [version 1; referees: 2 approved]
title_fullStr Mursamacin: a novel class of antibiotics from soil-dwelling roundworms of Central Kenya that inhibits methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [version 1; referees: 2 approved]
title_full_unstemmed Mursamacin: a novel class of antibiotics from soil-dwelling roundworms of Central Kenya that inhibits methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [version 1; referees: 2 approved]
title_short Mursamacin: a novel class of antibiotics from soil-dwelling roundworms of Central Kenya that inhibits methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [version 1; referees: 2 approved]
title_sort mursamacin a novel class of antibiotics from soil dwelling roundworms of central kenya that inhibits methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus version 1 referees 2 approved
topic Antimicrobials & Drug Resistance
Environmental Microbiology
url https://f1000research.com/articles/5-2431/v1
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