Proteomic profiling reveals innovation potential of new antibiotics

The fight against bacterial infections, especially those caused by resistant pathogens, is in full swing with the search for new antibiotic agents. The aim is to identify substances that attack the pathogens in a truly novel way. The team at the Center for Systems-Based Antibiotic Research (Cesar) at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) has described in two publications how assess if a new antibiotic has a new mechanism of action. They analyzed the proteome, i.e. the totality of all proteins present in the bacterium, to learn how the cell reacts to stress. The team published their findings in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy posted as accepted article on 12 October 2020. In another paper in the journal Proteomics accessible online as early view since 19 September 2020, the team evaluated the applicability of a method for determining the molecular target of antibiotics.