Oct 30, 2025
3 min read
A team of researchers has discovered a hidden antibiotic that is 100 times more powerful than existing drugs against deadly superbugs like MRSA.The molecule has been overlooked in a known bacterium for decades.It shows no signs of resistance yet, offering hope in the fight against drug-resistant infections and paving the way for new approaches to antibiotic discovery.
A hidden antibiotic is 100 times stronger against deadly superbugs, scientists have found
Chemists have discovered a powerful hidden antibiotic that is 100 times stronger than existing antibiotics and is effective against deadly superbugs.
- 29 October 2025
- Universititeti i warwick
Scientists have discovered a hidden antibiotic that is 100 times more powerful than existing antimicrobials such as MRSA.This molecule has been overlooked for decades in known bacterial strains.
Chemists from the University of Warwick and Monash University have discovered a promising new antibiotic that can fight drug-resistant bacterial infections including MRSA and VRE.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is considered one of the most serious threats to global health.The World Health Organization (WHO) recently warned that there are "very few antibiotics in the pipeline" and that the drugs available are becoming more readily available.Because developing new antibiotics is expensive and provides little financial reward, few pharmaceutical companies are investing in this important area.
Discovery of hidden antibiotic intermediates
In a recent article in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, researchers from the Monash Warwick Alliance Initiative for Combating Emerging Threats of Superbugs reported the discovery of a powerful new antibiotic called premethylenomycin C-lactone.The compound was "hiding in plain sight" as a chemical intermediate in the natural process that produces the well-known antibiotic methylenomycin A.
Professor Greg Challis, co-lead author from the University of Warwick's Department of Chemistry and the Institute of Bioassay AIRTA, Nate English Ontario synthesis!By removing biosynthetic intermediates, both are more antibiotics than methylenomycin."
Increase Antibacterial Power 100 Times
When tested, one of these - pre-medyleycin c lactone - is very effective against methylomcus and methylelomy Enteroccus (Vre).
Lead author Dr Lona Alkhalaf, assistant professor at the University of Warwick, said: "Notably, the methyleneomycin A and pro-methyleneomycin C lactone-producing bacterium -- Streptomyces coelicolor -- is a model antibiotic-producing species that has been extensively studied in unexpected abiotic environments since the 19th century."
He added that Adelicolor was first dispersed to produce a strong antibiotic (before Methethybinin), a weaker version that could serve more common minologists.
Interestingly, the research team found no evidence of bacteria resistant to methylenomycin c lactone in conditions that are usually resistant to vancomycin.Since vancomycin is often the "last resort" treatment for these infections, this result is a particularly promising sign for addressing VRE, which is listed as a high-priority pathogen.
New avenues for antibiotic discovery
Professor Challis noted: "This discovery suggests a new paradigm for antibiotic research. By identifying and testing intermediates in the pathways of various natural compounds, we can find powerful new antibiotics with greater resistance to resistance that will help us in the fight against AMR."
The next step in antibiotic development will be preclinical testing.In a coordinated publication earlier this year in the journal organic chemistry, the Monash-LED team in collaboration with the Warwick team reported on the synthesis of anceth that can be reported on the synthesis of ancethylenemycin C, paving the way for future research.
Professor David Lupton, School of Chemistry, says: "This process could be used to provide a platform for the high-level processing that makes this promising animantibiotic."
With its straightforward chemical structure, strong antibacterial potency, clear resistance-proof profile, and scalable production process, premethylomycin C lactone stands out as a promising new candidate.This could ultimately help save many of the estimated 1.1 million lives lost each year due to antimicrobial resistance.
Materials presented by the War College.Note: Articles can be edited for color and length.
— Christophe Corey, Gideon A.Idowu, Lijiang Song, Melanie E.Whitehead, Lona M.Alkhalf, Gregory L.Chalice.Discovery of late intermediates in methylenomycin biosynthesis active against drug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial pathogens.Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2025;DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c12501
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