Venom and Hot Peppers Offer a Key to Killing Resistant Bacteria
Venom and Hot Peppers Offer a Key to Killing Resistant Bacteria
蝎毒与辣椒：对抗耐药菌的关键钥匙
Researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) have identified new ways to combat tuberculosis and reduce bacterial resistance, developing three new antibiotics derived from scorpion venom and habanero peppers. 墨西哥国立自治大学（UNAM）的研究人员发现了对抗结核病和降低细菌耐药性的新方法，他们利用蝎毒和哈瓦那辣椒开发出了三种新型抗生素。
A team led by Lourival Domingos Possani Postay, from the Institute of Biotechnology’s Morelos campus, created two drugs that demonstrated efficacy against the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, responsible for tuberculosis, as well as against Staphylococcus aureus, a microorganism that in hospital environments can cause various clinical complications, from skin infections to potentially fatal diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, septicemia, and endocarditis. 由生物技术研究所莫雷洛斯校区的 Lourival Domingos Possani Postay 领导的团队研发出两种药物，证明了其对导致结核病的结核分枝杆菌（Mycobacterium tuberculosis）以及金黄色葡萄球菌（Staphylococcus aureus）具有疗效。金黄色葡萄球菌在医院环境中可引起多种临床并发症，从皮肤感染到肺炎、脑膜炎、败血症和心内膜炎等潜在致命疾病。
The antibiotics were derived from the venom of the scorpion Diplocentrus melici, native to the state of Veracruz. The team was able to isolate two colorless molecules called benzoquinones—heterocyclic compounds that do not contain amino acids—from the arachnid’s toxin. 这些抗生素提取自原产于韦拉克鲁斯州的蝎子 Diplocentrus melici 的毒液。研究团队成功从这种蛛形纲动物的毒素中分离出两种名为苯醌（benzoquinones）的无色分子，它们是不含氨基酸的杂环化合物。
These molecules have a particular property: When they come into contact with air, they oxidize and change color. One becomes blue and the other red. This behavior allowed scientists to determine their chemical structure, synthesize them in the laboratory, and evaluate their biological properties. 这些分子具有一种特殊属性：当它们接触空气时会发生氧化并变色。其中一种变为蓝色，另一种变为红色。这种特性使科学家能够确定其化学结构，在实验室中进行合成，并评估其生物学特性。
The results showed that the blue benzoquinone has the capacity to act against the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, while the red one is effective against Staphylococcus aureus. Richard Zare, a renowned expert in the field of physical chemistry and a professor of chemistry at Stanford University, participated in this process, which strengthened the validation of the findings. 结果显示，蓝色苯醌具有对抗结核病致病菌的能力，而红色苯醌则对金黄色葡萄球菌有效。斯坦福大学化学教授、物理化学领域著名专家 Richard Zare 参与了这一过程，进一步加强了研究结果的验证。
The project also involved the collaboration of Rogelio Hernández Pando, from the Salvador Zubirán National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition, who evaluated the effect of blue benzoquinone in a mouse model with induced tuberculosis. After the trials, he concluded that the molecule works as a highly effective antibiotic against this disease. 该项目还与萨尔瓦多·祖比兰国家医学科学与营养研究所的 Rogelio Hernández Pando 进行了合作，他评估了蓝色苯醌在诱导结核病小鼠模型中的效果。试验结束后，他得出结论：该分子是一种对抗此疾病的高效抗生素。
Subsequently, the team conducted further tests and found that the same substance is also capable of eliminating other bacteria, such as Acinetobacter baumannii, a highly resistant opportunistic pathogen that is often associated with infections in the blood, urinary tract, lungs, and wounds, especially in hospitals. 随后，研究团队进行了进一步测试，发现该物质同样能够消除其他细菌，例如鲍曼不动杆菌（Acinetobacter baumannii）。这是一种高耐药性的机会性病原体，常与血液、尿路、肺部和伤口感染有关，尤其是在医院环境中。
The molecules obtained from the scorpion venom have already been patented in Mexico and South Africa. Currently, researchers are working on the development of nanoparticles that function as stabilizers and protection systems, so that antibiotics can be administered safely in the body. 从蝎毒中提取的分子已在墨西哥和南非获得专利。目前，研究人员正致力于开发纳米颗粒，作为稳定剂和保护系统，以便抗生素能在体内安全地发挥作用。
According to Possani Postay, the next step is to carry out clinical trials, although he recognizes that these involve considerable investment. For this reason, he expressed interest in collaborating with a national pharmaceutical company to bring the compounds to large-scale production. 据 Possani Postay 称，下一步是进行临床试验，尽管他承认这需要相当大的投资。因此，他表示有兴趣与国内制药公司合作，将这些化合物投入大规模生产。
From a Sauce to an Antibiotic
从调味酱到抗生素
At the same time, another group from the UNAM Biotechnology Institute identified a peptide in the habanero chili bell pepper that has the capacity to fight opportunistic bacteria that can cause serious infections, particularly in patients with weakened immune systems. 与此同时，UNAM 生物技术研究所的另一个小组在哈瓦那辣椒中发现了一种肽，它具有对抗机会性细菌的能力，这些细菌可能导致严重感染，尤其是在免疫系统较弱的患者中。
This project, led by Gerardo Corzo Burguete together with Georgina Estrada Tapia from the Yucatan Scientific Research Center, focused on the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, considered by the World Health Organization as a high-priority pathogen due to its resistance to conventional antibiotics. 该项目由 Gerardo Corzo Burguete 与尤卡坦科学研究中心的 Georgina Estrada Tapia 共同领导，重点研究铜绿假单胞菌（Pseudomonas aeruginosa）。由于该菌对传统抗生素具有耐药性，被世界卫生组织列为高优先级病原体。
The scientists identified a peptide called defensin J1-1 in the habanero bell pepper (Capsicum chinense). Based on this finding, they developed a biotechnological process to produce a drug called XisHar J1-1, which proved effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and has the potential to treat infections caused by fungi. 科学家在哈瓦那辣椒（Capsicum chinense）中鉴定出一种名为防御素 J1-1（defensin J1-1）的肽。基于这一发现，他们开发了一种生物技术工艺来生产名为 XisHar J1-1 的药物，该药物被证明对铜绿假单胞菌有效，并具有治疗真菌感染的潜力。
The procedure involved the genetic modification of a bacterium to induce the production of J1-1 defensin. Subsequently, the modified microorganism was cultured by submerged fermentation, an industrial technique that allows the generation of compounds on a large scale. Finally, the peptide was extracted and purified for use as an antibiotic. 该过程涉及对细菌进行基因改造，以诱导其产生 J1-1 防御素。随后，通过深层发酵（一种允许大规模生成化合物的工业技术）对改造后的微生物进行培养。最后，提取并纯化该肽以用作抗生素。
Although the experimental results were positive, Estrada Tapia pointed out that the study has limitations, since it did not use a resistant strain from patients, but a laboratory strain. However, she indicated that both defensin and its synthetic variants showed efficacy and already have a patent in Mexico. 尽管实验结果是积极的，但 Estrada Tapia 指出该研究存在局限性，因为它使用的不是来自患者的耐药菌株，而是实验室菌株。不过，她表示防御素及其合成变体均显示出疗效，并已在墨西哥获得专利。
The team stressed the need for further research, since these molecules can be degraded in different organisms. Even so, they are confident that the next phase, which includes tests against resistant strains isolated from patients, will allow them to validate their therapeutic potential. 研究团队强调需要进行进一步研究，因为这些分子在不同生物体中可能会降解。即便如此，他们仍有信心下一阶段的研究（包括针对从患者身上分离出的耐药菌株的测试）将使他们能够验证其治疗潜力。
Iván Arenas Sosa, a member of the group, emphasized that although there is still a long way to go, the advances represent a promising method of combating antimicrobial resistance, considered one of the main threats to global health. 该小组成员 Iván Arenas Sosa 强调，尽管前路漫漫，但这些进展代表了一种对抗抗菌药物耐药性的有前途的方法，而耐药性被认为是全球健康的主要威胁之一。
“The problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has increased in recent years and will continue in the future. Therefore, it is essential to promote projects aimed at the discovery of new molecules and the development of innovative treatments to address antimicrobial resistance,” he concluded. “抗生素耐药菌的问题近年来有所增加，未来还将持续。因此，推动旨在发现新分子和开发创新疗法以应对抗菌药物耐药性的项目至关重要，”他总结道。