Teixobactin

A NEW

ANTIBIOTIC AFTER

25 YEARS

DR SUBHASISH DEB

BURDWAN MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL

DEPT. OF GENERAL MEDICINE

Dr Subhasish Deb, BMCH

TEIXOBACTIN


Discovery in Jan 2015

Published in the journal “Nature”

This discovery is also remarkable for

another reason – development of a

technology iCHIP that can herald the

discovery of many new antibiotics

TEIXOBACTIN


A single scoop of soil contains millions of

bacteria & fungi

They survive by fighting each other by

producing what we call antibiotics

PROBLEM?

Only 1% of microbes in the soil (or sea

water) can be readily grown in Lab

conditions.

HOW ICHIP WORKS?


North

Eastern

University

Where KIM

LEWIS and

SALVA

EPSTEIN did

their study.


A sample soil is diluted and then poured oh

the iCHIP which consists of hundreds of

small holes

It is hoped that only 1 microbe is caught in

each hole

The chip is then covered with membranes

on both sides and put back into the soil

sample.



The membrane contains pores that are only

large enough for chemical nutrients to flow

but small enough to block movement of

bacteria

Thus single bacteria in hole grows without

being contaminated with other bacteria in

soil

75% of the ichip bacteria can be

transferred and grown in lab. solutions


One bacteria – Eleftheria terrae was found

to produce the best antibiotic –

TEIXOBACTIN

MOA:

Cell wall inhibition – attaches to essential

precursors required for cell wall synthesis.

It attacks gm+ bacteria that have thick cell

wall but no membrane as in gm-


They have shown promise in mice, clinical

trials yet to be undertaken

The greatest developments of science are

often not the discoveries but the

developments that enable them. So while

teixobactin is certainly a remarkable

achievement, the new method to grow soil

bacteria in labs. is an equally important

contribution.Dr Subhasish Deb, BMCH

Thank YouTHANK YOU


Health & Medicine

Teixobactin