Chinese scientists develop new antibiotics

The Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, confirmed on the 7th that the antibacterial peptides and derivatives of anti-clinically drug-resistant bacteria developed by researchers of the institute have been granted national patents. This is the first new case developed in addition to traditional antibiotics in half a century. Type antibiotics.

Li Wenhui, head of the project, told reporters that the total global antibiotic market is about 30 billion U.S. dollars. However, since half a century no new types of antibiotics have been developed in the true sense, these antibiotics basically belong to traditional antibiotics. With the extensive use and misuse of traditional antibiotics, a variety of drug-resistant strains have emerged clinically, such as the well-known “super bacteria”, which seriously endangers public health.

Li Wenhui said that because of its unique mechanism of action, animal antibacterial peptides directly disrupt the permeability of bacterial cell walls and membranes, and thus are not susceptible to drug resistance, and they have become promising new anti-infection drug candidates.

It is understood that Li Wenhui led the scientific research team and based on a large number of previous work of the laboratory in animal antibacterial peptide research, selected snake venom peptides in more than 500 animal antibacterial peptides. The snake venom peptide showed strong antibacterial activity against more than 500 clinically resistant strains. It also had very low mammalian cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity. It was superior to the similar candidate drugs in the United States that were undergoing phase III clinical trials and had high clinical application. prospect.

At present, this research has been specially funded by the State's major new drug creation system. The relevant invention patents, “Reptile Antimicrobial Peptides and Derivatives and Their Applications” have been authorized by the national invention patent, providing a solid basis for the preparation and application of new anti-clinical drug resistant microbial infection agents. basis.