Scientists have discovered a secret part of the immune system inside our cells. This finding could help fight drug-resistant bacteria, also known as superbugs. Researchers in Israel found that a small structure in cells, once thought to only recycle proteins, has a powerful hidden ability. It can produce bacteria-killing compounds that act like natural antibiotics.
This discovery changes how we understand our body’s defenses against infection. It also opens a new path for creating antibiotics to fight bacteria that no longer respond to current treatments.
The Proteasome’s New Role in Fighting Bacteria
The research focuses on a tiny cell structure called the proteasome. It was previously known for breaking down and recycling old proteins. However, a study published in the journal Nature shows that the proteasome does much more. It detects bacterial infections and shifts its role. Instead of recycling proteins, it turns them into molecules that destroy bacteria.
Scientists tested these molecules on bacteria in lab experiments. They also used them to treat mice with pneumonia and sepsis. The results were promising. The molecules killed bacteria as effectively as some antibiotics that doctors currently use.
Professor Yifat Merbl from the Weizmann Institute of Science led the research team. She described the discovery as “exciting and unexpected.” She explained, “We found a new immune mechanism that helps cells defend against bacteria. This happens all over the body and produces a completely new type of natural antibiotic.”
A New Hope Against Superbugs
The team compared their work to “dumpster diving.” They searched through cell functions to find hidden antibiotics. Their efforts paid off. When they disabled the proteasome in lab-grown cells, bacteria like Salmonella infected them more easily. This confirmed the proteasome’s role in fighting infections.
Professor Daniel Davis, an immunologist at Imperial College London, called the findings “extremely interesting.” He said, “This discovery changes what we thought about the immune system. It’s surprising and very important.”
However, Davis also warned that it will take time to turn this discovery into real treatments. Scientists need to study these molecules more before they can be used as medicine.
The Need for New Antibiotics
The world urgently needs new antibiotics. Over a million people die each year from infections that no longer respond to current drugs. Despite this crisis, antibiotic research has slowed down in recent years.
Dr. Lindsey Edwards, a microbiology expert at King’s College London, said this discovery could be a “goldmine” for new antibiotics. “For years, we searched soil for new antibiotics. It’s incredible that we’ve had them inside us all along. The challenge was finding them,” she said.
She also pointed out that since these molecules are natural parts of the human body, they might be safer to develop into drugs. Some antibiotics can cause side effects because they come from bacteria or fungi. These new molecules, made by human cells, may be easier for the body to tolerate.
Scientists now want to study these molecules further. They need to figure out how to make them into effective medicines. Researchers also want to see if these compounds work against the most dangerous superbugs, like MRSA and drug-resistant tuberculosis.
This discovery is an important step in the fight against antibiotic resistance. If successful, it could change how we treat infections. Instead of relying only on antibiotics found in nature, we might start using the ones hidden inside our own bodies.
For more updates on medical breakthroughs, visit New York Mirror.