Molecule from marine life can treat hospital infections: NIO

PANAJI: Scientists in India are working on ocean sponges to develop an antibiotic molecule that can treat hospital-acquired infections.
This marine-derived antibiotic molecule is being developed at the CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, to treat serious gram-positive infections. The compound, PM181104 was tested against more than 250 clinical pathogens and has shown promising results.
“Very soon the world will have to bear the consequences of increased drug resistance if new anti-infectives aren’t pumped into the clinical pipeline in a short period. This presses on the need for novel chemical entities, and the marine environment is one such hotspot to look for,” said Dr Narsinh Thakur, senior principal scientist, CSIR-NIO.
Gram-positive bacteria, especially the antibiotic-resistant pathogens are the burgeoning reasons for bloodstream infections in the hospitalized patients, and are associated with serious clinical failures.
A specifically persistent problem in hospitals is antibiotic resistance in gram-positive cocci (spherical-shaped bacterium) infections such as skin infections, pneumonia, septic arthritis and abscesses.
Both infection control and antibiotic-selective pressure are important factors responsible for outbreaks in hospitals. Such healthcare-associated infections are increasingly difficult to treat because of the pathogens involved.
“There is an urgent clinical need for new antimicrobial agents against serious gram-positive pathogens, including the drug-resistant ones with suitable pharmacokinetic properties and safety profiles,” Dr Thakur said.
Pharmacokinetics studies how the body interacts with substances or drugs administered during treatment.
“Gram-positive infections need to be managed effectively before they turn into an epidemic,” he said.
This is where marine-sourced solutions come in.
Since marine life is evolutionarily far more diverse than its terrestrial counterpart, scientists are tapping into its potential.
With a widely unexplored repository of living resources, marine biodiversity is a treasure attracting pharmaceutical industries for drug discovery and other applications. Several parameters such as light, pressure, temperature, and nutrient conditions of the ocean challenge the marine living creatures to produce complex bioactive molecules for survival.
Of the several treasures the ocean harbours, sponges are of particular interest. These marine sponges are primitive, filter-feeding organisms which along with the food particles also ingest pathogens. To tackle this problem, sponges produce various anti-biotic compounds which can be tapped for human use.
“With several compounds in clinical trials and some in the market, sponges and their associated bacteria have showcased their exceptional potential of having various effective medicinal properties,” Dr Thakur said.
The studies which are in progress under mission IND (investigational new drug) program of the CSIR will soon prepare the antibiotic molecule for IND’s application filing.
Infographic:
Ocean Sponge Molecule
PM181104 is an emerging antibiotic molecule obtained by fermenting marine sponge-associated bacterium
PM181104 is a potent antibiotic showing antibacterial activity against MRSA (infection causing bacteria that is difficult to treat) & several bacterial pathogens
The CSIR-NIO Goa isolated antibiotic-producing Kocuria species from marine sponge
This molecule was further developed by NIO-Goa researchers & Nicholas Piramal research centre, Mumbai
PM181104 tested against more than 250 test organisms including Vancomycin-resistant and Vancomycin sensitive Enterococci, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus species, 17 gram-negative strains & Methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive S aureus (an infection)