Novel bacterial target raises hopes for new antibiotics

Researchers at the John Inness Centre in Norwich (www.jic.ac.uk) have identified a novel bacterial target that could open the way for a new generation of antibiotics (Science 2009;326:1415–8).

They have shown that simocyclinone D8, a compound produced by soil bacteria, simultaneously binds to bacterial DNA gyrase at two sites not previously targeted with antibacterials and prevents the enzyme binding with DNA. DNA gyrase is a promising target for antibiotics because it is not present in humans. The new sites are adjacent to the binding site for quinolones.

Simocyclinone D8 itself is not a candidate for development because it is not taken up by bacterial cells, but this research has revealed a new target for antibiotic development.