Scientists at the University of Tübingen have identified a novel antibiotic substance named epifadin, derived from specific strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria residing in the human nose. Epifadin constitutes a new, previously unknown class of antimicrobial compounds that kills microorganisms and could be used as a lead structure for the development of novel antibiotics.
Staphylococcus epidermidis occurs naturally in the dermal and nasal microbiomes of almost all humans. The newly identified strain is believed to produce the active substance epifadin in order to survive against competing microorganisms. Epifadin not only works against the bacteria that are locally in competition with Staphylococcus epidermidis, it is also effective against bacteria from other habitats such as the intestine and certain fungi. The researchers found that it is especially effective against Staphylococcus aureus.
In experiments described in a recent Nature Microbiology paper, the active substance epifadin reliably killed the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, destroying hostile bacterial cells by damaging their cell membrane. The chemical structure of epifadin is extremely unstable and the substance is only active for a very few hours, so epifadin has a mainly local effect. This reduces the likelihood of collateral damage to the microbiome that is common with current treatments with broad-spectrum antibiotics. More research is needed to discover whether epifadin or its derivates can be used for therapy.
While the challenging perishability of epifadin complicates extensive analysis, the team is optimistic about its potential role in combating the rising global threat of antibiotic-resistant infections. The ongoing pursuit of new antibiotics becomes increasingly crucial, given the diminishing effectiveness of existing treatments against evolving pathogens.