A 14-week training program conducted by scientists at the University of Illinois at Chicago brought an unexpected discovery. Students who have not yet entered high school were tasked with searching for new bioactive factors. When one of the teenagers brought bird droppings from the city park, it turned out that they contained compounds with unusual properties.
The aim of the educational program was to promote a scientific career among young people through practical experience. To that end, a team of experts led by Brian Murphy of the University of Illinois contacted the Boys and Girls Club, an educational organization that works with many Chicago schools. Murphy's day job involves discovering antibiotics from natural sources, so interested students were asked to survey their area for environmental samples.
A total of 14 samples were suitable for further testing. One of them – the population of geese collected from the Garfield Park lagoon by Kamarri Williams – attracted the attention of scientists. Under their supervision, the young student carefully isolated a bacterium containing an antibiotic. Later laboratory tests also revealed an as-yet-unknown compound that has anti-cancer properties in laboratory tests. The details are described in the magazine “ACS Omega”.
Unknown to science
From the samples brought by the teenager, it was possible to isolate a type of gram-negative bacteria (in the composition of the cell wall) called Pseudomonas idahonensis. They have been shown in the laboratory to inhibit over 90 percent of the growth of a type of gram-positive bacteria (which lack a cell wall) that causes skin infections.
Moreover, the Pseudomonas bacterium not only showed antibiotic properties, but also produced a new and previously unknown compound, called by scientists or famid N, which successfully inhibited the growth of melanoma and ovarian cancer cells in laboratory tests. has slowed down. The authors of this program add that further research may reveal other beneficial properties.
Search for new drugs
An unexpected discovery is very valuable for scientists. At the same time, more dangerous bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics, so every new compound is worth its weight in gold. Experts emphasize that the natural environment is the best place to search for discoveries.
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