Bacteria that normally live in and upon us have genetic blueprints that enable them to make thousands of molecules that act like drugs, and some of these molecules might serve as the basis for new human therapeutics, according to UC San Francisco researchers.
In a study published in the Sept. 11 issue ofCell, the scientists purified and solved the structure of one of the molecules they identified, an antibiotic they named lactocillin, which is made by a common bacterial species, Lactobacillus gasseri, found in the microbial community within the vagina. The antibiotic is closely related to others already being tested clinically by pharmaceutical companies. Lactocillin kills several vaginal bacterial pathogens, but spares species known to harmlessly dwell in the vagina.
This example suggests that there may be an important role for many naturally occurring drugs – made by our own microbes — in maintaining human health, said the senior author of the study, Michael Fischbach, PhD, an assistant professor of bioengineering with the UCSF School of Pharmacy, who has established a career discovering interesting molecules made by microbes.
“We used to think that drugs were developed by drug companies, approved by the FDA, and prescribed by physicians, but we now think there are many drugs of equal potency and specificity being produced by the human microbiota,” Fischbach said.
Potent Solutions in Nature
About a third of all medicines used in the clinic are derived from microbes and plants, Fischbach said. These include antibiotics like penicillin, numerous drugs used in cancer chemotherapy, and cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Although those who prospect for drugs from microbes have been combing the depths of the oceans and probing exotic soils around the globe, only now have scientists begun to look within our own bodies.
There are hundreds of bacterial species associated with each of us, and thousands of distinct strains among them. We do not all harbor the same species, and different species are found at different body sites.
The Latest on: Naturally occurring drugs
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Naturally occurring drugs” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Naturally occurring drugs
- Update on Natural Product-Drug Interactionson May 9, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Gayle Nicholas Scott, Pharm.D., FASCP, BCPS, CGP, is a freelance medical writer and Assistant Professor, Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk. Gary W ...
- Before Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Brain Worm, There Was the Steroid Questionon May 9, 2024 at 2:00 am
A veteran author and sportswriter examines the independent presidential candidate and senior citizen’s garish knots of muscles and worries about his steroid use and ours.
- 5 weight-loss drug stocks to watch as Ozempic, Zepbound sales surgeon May 8, 2024 at 1:12 pm
Two pharmaceutical companies, Eli Lilly (LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NVO), are leading the weight-loss revolution with a new class of drugs known as GLP-1 agonists. Surging revenue and growing excitement ...
- Experimental drug may help people quit vapingon May 7, 2024 at 7:51 am
An experimental anti-nicotine drug appears to help people quit vaping, a new study says. Cytisinicline is a naturally occurring plant-based substance that binds to nicotine receptors in the brain, ...
- How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?on May 7, 2024 at 5:59 am
CBD has become a popular remedy for pain, inflammation and anxiety without mind-altering effects. But many factors—including dosage and strength—determine how long it stays in your body.
- Drug May Help Folks Kick the Vaping Habiton May 6, 2024 at 10:27 pm
TUESDAY, May 7, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental anti-nicotine drug appears to help people quit vaping, a new study says. Cytisinicline is a naturally occurring plant-based substance that ...
- Natural compounds in gut microbiome show promise for inflammation treatmenton May 3, 2024 at 10:47 pm
Researchers at the University of Toronto have found naturally occurring compounds in the gut that can be harnessed to reduce inflammation and other symptoms of digestive issues.
- 5 Best Broad-Spectrum CBD Products for 2024on May 1, 2024 at 5:00 pm
This form contains a range of naturally occurring compounds from the cannabis ... While full-spectrum products contain THC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stipulates that they must not ...
- What making weight-loss drugs means for the environmenton April 27, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Both peptides mimic the natural body hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The drugs regulate blood sugar levels and ... it hard to keep up with the demand even now, and shortages are occurring ...
- Medicare Lifts Its National Coverage Restriction On Alzheimer’s Disease PET Diagnosticson November 1, 2023 at 6:31 am
Beta amyloid is a naturally occurring protein ... take Leqembi enroll in a patient registry to collect more data on the drug’s safety and effectiveness. In turn this evidence gathering will ...
via Bing News