Leap forward in the discovery and development of new antibiotics

A powerful new insight, linked to recent studies by Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI), has provided a new understanding of Glycopeptide antibiotics (GPAs) biosynthesis that allows new GPAs to be made and tested in the laboratory. This is vital in the quest to develop new antibiotics to keep pace with the ever-evolving ‘superbugs’ that continue to pose a serious threat to global public health.

Led by Associate Professor Max Cryle, the recent finding, published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, shows for the first time, how a wide range of new GPAs can be made by combining the natural biosynthesis machinery and chemical modifications.  This will now enable the discovery and development of new antibiotics for clinical use and is an avenue being rapidly pursued.

Click here to read the full story.