Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds
08:54

Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds

Published on: February 14, 2018

18.9K

Crowdsourcing for mining new fungal sources for addressing the need for novel antibiotics against multidrug resistant

T S Suryanarayanan1

  • 1Vivekananda Institute of Tropical Mycology, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Chennai, India. t_sury2002@yahoo.com.

The Journal of Antibiotics
|April 17, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Discovering novel antibiotics from fungi in extreme environments is crucial for combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A crowdsourcing model could accelerate the identification of new drugs against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Drug Discovery
  • Bioprospecting

Background:

  • The rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria, including multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pan-drug-resistant (PDR) strains, poses a significant global health crisis.
  • There is an urgent need for novel antibiotics to combat these resistant pathogens.
  • Exploring less-studied environments and employing diverse bioprospecting approaches are essential for discovering new antimicrobial agents.

Discussion:

  • Bioprospecting fungi from extreme environments offers a promising avenue for identifying novel antibiotic compounds.
  • Utilizing both new and established methodologies can enhance the discovery of unique chemotypes.
  • The study proposes a crowdsourcing model to augment antibiotic discovery efforts.

Key Insights:

  • Extreme environments harbor fungi with potential for novel antibiotic production.
  • A crowdsourcing approach can significantly increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of antibiotic discovery.
  • This strategy may yield new chemotypes for various therapeutic applications beyond AMR.

Outlook:

  • Further research into fungal biodiversity in extreme habitats is warranted.
  • Implementing crowdsourcing models could revolutionize drug discovery pipelines.
  • Developing novel antibiotics is critical for future public health preparedness against resistant infections.

More Related Videos

Mass Spectrometry-Guided Genome Mining as a Tool to Uncover Novel Natural Products11:13

Mass Spectrometry-Guided Genome Mining as a Tool to Uncover Novel Natural Products

Published on: March 12, 2020

10.9K
Isolation of Culturable Yeasts and Molds from Soils to Investigate Fungal Population Structure10:33

Isolation of Culturable Yeasts and Molds from Soils to Investigate Fungal Population Structure

Published on: May 27, 2022

5.5K

Related Concept Videos

Antibiotic Selection00:57

Antibiotic Selection

Overview
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics01:29

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
Production of Antibiotics01:27

Production of Antibiotics

Penicillin, one of the earliest and most widely used antibiotics, is produced industrially by the filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. Large stirred-tank bioreactors ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands of liters maintain tightly controlled temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen conditions to support fungal metabolism and maximize antibiotic yield. Penicillin is a secondary metabolite, synthesized primarily during the stationary growth phase, which requires a carefully managed...
Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics01:21

Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics

Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...