Antibiotic resistance claims up to five million lives worldwide each year. Nevertheless, the development of better antibiotics has been significantly scaled back. The University of Zurich (UZH) has already laid the groundwork for a promising new drug, now being advanced for use in precision medicine.
The proportion of infections caused by resistant pathogens is rapidly increasing worldwide, and forecasts suggest that, without countermeasures, annual deaths could rise to as many as 10 million by 2050. This would surpass the mortality rate of many serious diseases, including cancer. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics in humans, animals, and plants are the primary drivers of the development of drug-resistant pathogens. The World Health Organization WHO has compiled a list of
particularly resistant bacteria and has highlighted the issue of “super germs” as one of the greatest challenges of our time. A new solution to super germs is found in insects. Resistance affects all regions and income levels, but young children and the elderly are especially at risk. For example, in this vulnerable group, a pneumococcal infection leading to meningitis or pneumonia can be fatal if the antibiotics used to treat it are ineffective.
The global problem of antibiotic resistance poses a significant challenge to modern healthcare systems. If substantial investments are not made now in the development of new antibiotics, we may soon face a future where no antibiotics are available to effectively treat infections.
«Thanks to your support, a new class of innovative antibiotics could soon emerge. These will be gentle on humans while effectively combating multiresistant bacteria.»
Prof. Dr. Oliver Zerbe, Head of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Laboratory at UZH
In 2018, Professor Oliver Zerbe and his team of researchers from UZH and ETH Zurich made a groundbreaking discovery: they found that a protein called thanatin, produced by stink bugs, halts bacterial growth, causing the bacteria to die. Based on this breakthrough, the researchers are now developing a novel approach to combat multi-resistant pathogens. Their research is specifically targeting the resistant bacteria on the WHO’s priority list.
The foundation for a new class of drugs could lie in Thanatin-based molecules. Further studies have shown that thanatin-based molecules not only effectively target resistant bacteria but also slow the development of resistance. Unlike conventional antibiotics, these specific compounds focus on certain classes of bacteria, thereby protecting the microbiome. They are also non-toxic, minimizing the strain on internal organs when administered.
Developing new antibiotics is a highly complex undertaking that requires specialized expertise in chemistry, biochemistry, and microbiology. At UZH, the necessary expertise and patents are in
place to advance these substances. In collaboration with teams from medical microbiology, plant microbiology, and the One Health Institute, Professor Zerbe is working to further develop this thanatin-based platform to address all bacteria classified as critical by the WHO.
The One Health Institute at UZH takes a holistic approach to the health of all living organisms—human, animal, and plant—and their interconnections. It provides an ideal foundation to address global issues such as antibiotic resistance with a broad range of expertise. This research project will further strengthen the One Health approach.
