Mining the microbiome: Uncovering new antibiotics inside the human gut.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science and Stanford University have discovered potential new antibiotics by studying the gut microbiomes of nearly 2,000 people. By analyzing the genetic information of bacteria in the human gut using artificial intelligence, the researchers identified dozens of peptides with antimicrobial properties. After experimental validation, over half of the peptides tested successfully inhibited bacterial growth, with one candidate demonstrating anti-infective capabilities on par with an FDA-approved antibiotic. This study suggests that mining the human microbiome for new antimicrobial peptides could be a promising avenue for future research and clinical applications. [Extracted from the article]