Bacteria
Genome New
Weapon Against Superbugs
LONDON (Reuters) - British scientists have mapped the genetic
material of a common soil bacterium in an achievement that could
combat the growing problem of "superbugs"--bacteria resistant
to the most powerful antibiotics.
The bacterium, Streptomyces coelicolor, and its relatives already
produce two thirds of natural antibiotics such as tetracycline and
erythromycin. But researchers said the sequencing of its genome,
announced on Wednesday, could lead to novel types of antibiotics
and anti-cancer drugs and offer new insights into diseases such
as leprosy, tuberculosis and diphtheria.
"It is a very important day in terms of looking at the future
of antibiotics," Professor Julius Weinberg, of City University
London, told a news conference.
Superbugs such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureaus
are a growing problem worldwide. Experts have blamed the emergence
of superbugs on the overuse and misuse of antibiotics and the
failure of scientists to realize how adaptable bacteria are.
LARGEST BACTERIA GENOME
Scientists from the John Innes Centre and The Wellcome Trust
Sanger Institute in Britain, who mapped the genetic material of
Streptomyces during a project that began in 1997, believe the
genome will help to solve the problem.
With more than 8.66 million base pairs of DNA and 7,825 genes,
it is the largest bacterial genome to be sequenced. It has more
genes than yeast, a few thousand less than the fruit fly and nearly
a quarter of the estimated 30,000 to 40,000 genes in humans.
Dr. Keith Chater, one of the scientists at the John Innes Centre
that worked on the project, described it as a fabulous resource
for scientists.
Researchers had already known and tapped into four gene clusters
in the bacterium to produce antibiotics. The sequencing of the
genome has identified 18 others that they hope to utilize to make
better drugs and transform the bacterium into an antibiotics factory.
"By playing mix and match with these genes we will be able to
produce compounds that will lead to the production of new antibiotics,"
said Dr. Mark Buttner, who has been working on Streptomyces genetics
at the John Innes Centre for 17 years.
"The idea is that we will make compounds that don't exist in
nature," he added.
Streptomyces are also cousins of bacteria that cause tuberculosis,
leprosy and diphtheria. By identifying common features of all
the bacteria, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of
the diseases.
Ritu Dhand, an editor at the science journal Nature, which published
the research, described it as an important resource for medical
research.
"This genome will give us insights into designing new drugs
using genetic engineering," she told the news conference.
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