The toxin and hot pepper provide the key to killing resistant bacteria

Researchers from The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has identified new ways to combat and reduce tuberculosis Bacterial resistanceDevelopment of three new antibiotics derived from scorpion venom and habanero peppers.

A team led by Lorival Domingos Bussani Bustai, from the Morelos Campus of the Institute of Biotechnology, has created two drugs that have proven effective against bacteria. Mycobacterium tuberculosisresponsible for tuberculosis, as well as V Staphylococcus aureuswhich are microorganisms that can cause various clinical complications in hospital environments, ranging from skin infections to fatal diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, septicemia and endocarditis.

Antibiotics are derived from scorpion venom Diplocentrus melesinative to the state of Veracruz. The team was able to isolate two colorless molecules called benzoquinones, which are heterocyclic compounds that do not contain amino acids, from the spider venoms.

These molecules have a special property: when they come into contact with air, they oxidize and change color. One becomes blue and the other becomes red. This behavior allowed scientists to determine their chemical composition, synthesize them in the laboratory, and evaluate their biological properties.

The results showed that blue benzoquinone has the ability to work against the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, while red benzoquinone is effective against the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. Staphylococcus aureus. Richard Zarya renowned expert in the field of physical chemistry and professor of chemistry at Stanford University, participated in this process, strengthening the validation of the results.

The project also included a collaboration with Rogelio Hernandez Pando, of the Salvador Zoberan National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition, who evaluated the effect of benzoquinone blue in a mouse model of induced tuberculosis. After experiments, it was concluded that the molecule acts as a highly effective antibiotic against this disease.

The team then conducted further tests and found that the same material was also able to eliminate other bacteria, e.g stagnant baumanniia highly resistant opportunistic pathogen often associated with infections of the blood, urinary tract, lungs and wounds, especially in hospitals.

Particles obtained from scorpion venom have already been patented in Mexico and South Africa. Researchers are currently working on developing nanoparticles that act as stabilizers and protective systems, so that antibiotics can be safely administered into the body.

According to Busani Pustai, the next step is to conduct clinical trials, although he realizes that these require significant investments. For this reason, he expressed interest in collaborating with a national pharmaceutical company to bring the compounds into large-scale production.

From sauce to antibiotic

Meanwhile, another group from the UNAM Institute of Biotechnology has identified a peptide found in habanero chili peppers that has the ability to fight opportunistic bacteria that can cause serious infections, especially in patients with weakened immune systems.

This project, led by Gerardo Corzo Borghetti with Georgina Estrada Tapia from the Yucatán Center for Scientific Research, focused on bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosawhich is considered by the World Health Organization as High priority pathogens Because of its resistance to traditional antibiotics.

Scientists have identified a peptide called defensin J1-1 in sweet habanero peppers (Chinese pepper). Based on this result, they developed a biotechnological process to produce a drug called XisHar J1-1, which has proven effective against… Pseudomonas aeruginosa It has the ability to treat infections caused by fungi.

The procedure involved genetically modifying bacteria to induce J1-1 defensin production. Later, modified microorganisms were grown by submerge fermentation, an industrial technique that allows the compounds to be generated on a large scale. Finally, the peptide was extracted and purified for use as an antibiotic.