3. Discovery in Jan 2015
Published in the journal “Nature”
This discovery is also remarkable for
another reason – development of a
technology iCHIP that can herald the
discovery of many new antibiotics
TEIXOBACTIN
Dr Subhasish Deb, BMCH
4. A single scoop of soil contains millions of
bacteria & fungi
They survive by fighting each other by
producing what we call antibiotics
PROBLEM?
Only 1% of microbes in the soil (or sea
water) can be readily grown in Lab
conditions.
HOW ICHIP WORKS?
Dr Subhasish Deb, BMCH
6. A sample soil is diluted and then poured oh
the iCHIP which consists of hundreds of
small holes
It is hoped that only 1 microbe is caught in
each hole
The chip is then covered with membranes
on both sides and put back into the soil
sample.
Dr Subhasish Deb, BMCH
8. The membrane contains pores that are only
large enough for chemical nutrients to flow
but small enough to block movement of
bacteria
Thus single bacteria in hole grows without
being contaminated with other bacteria in
soil
75% of the ichip bacteria can be
transferred and grown in lab. solutions
Dr Subhasish Deb, BMCH
9. One bacteria – Eleftheria terrae was found
to produce the best antibiotic –
TEIXOBACTIN
MOA:
Cell wall inhibition – attaches to essential
precursors required for cell wall synthesis.
It attacks gm+ bacteria that have thick cell
wall but no membrane as in gm-
Dr Subhasish Deb, BMCH
10. They have shown promise in mice, clinical
trials yet to be undertaken
The greatest developments of science are
often not the discoveries but the
developments that enable them. So while
teixobactin is certainly a remarkable
achievement, the new method to grow soil
bacteria in labs. is an equally important
contribution. Dr Subhasish Deb, BMCH