Researchers have recently identified a powerful new antibiotic – in a major discovery made by breaking new ground, but returning to the common ground.
The compound, Pre-Methyleneomycin C Lactone, was discovered by a team from Warwick University in the UK and Monash University in Australia. While not seen before, it comes from a type of bacteria that Countis has studied for decades.
Potentially, it can help to fight the bacteria that have grown more in today’s treatment – and in fact it is an intermediate chemical created during the production of another antibiotic, methylenomycin a.
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“It is surprising that a bacterium that produces methylenomycin a and pre-methyleneomycin c lactone – Streptomyeces Coelicolor – It is the most studied type of antibiotic that has been produced since the 1950s, “said chemist Lema Alkhalaf, from the University of Warwick.
“Finding a new antibiotic in a common animal was really surprising.”
In laboratory tests, Pre-methyleneomycin C lactone was shown to be more effective than methylenomycin a from gram-positive bacteria, the species that are starting to fight against our current antibiotics.
Pre-methyleneomycin C lactone was found to be more potent than methylomycin a. (Corre et al., J. AM. CHEM. Soc.2025)
The researchers behind the tholom decided to take a closer look at methyleneomycin a by changing the genes used in the antibiotic assembly line, to see if each person did it. The resulting compounds, defined as biosynthetic intermediates, are then equipped with antibiotic activity.
“Methyleneomycin a was discovered 50 years ago, and while it was planned several times, no one seems to have tested the synthetic intermediates with antimicrobial activity,” said chemist Greg Charlis, from the University of Warwick.
The team found that pre-methyleneomycin C lactone was effective against both methicillin-resistant bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vanmomycin-resistant Enterococcus (Vre), two diseases that have proven to be more resistant to existing antibiotics.
What is particularly promising about that Enterococcus Bacteria exposed to Pre-Methyleneomycin C Lactone for 28 straight days did not develop resistance to it, suggesting that the Compound can remain active for a long time.
Experts worry about antibiotic resistance – already responsible for millions of deaths every year – the need for new and old drugs to deal with urgent diseases, as bacteria continue to evolve.
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Next, we need more testing and lab testing of Pre-methyleneomycin C lactone to fully understand its potential as an antibiotic – both in the processes it works on and the pathogens it targets.
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The investigators also see the possibility of looking at those in other drugs to see if there are more computers like this available.
“This discovery suggests a new paradigm for antibiotic discovery,” Challal said.
“By identifying and testing the intermediates that are on the way to different natural pathways, we can find new, stronger antibiotics that will help fight resistance. and fight and fight and fight and fight and fight and fight and fight and fight and fight and fight against opposition.”
The study was published in Journal of the American chemical society.
