Lugdunin and Derivatives – a New Class of Antibiotics Against Gram-Positive Bacteria

Among Gram-positive bacteria are some of the most dangerous pathogens for humans. Especially Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is responsible for a high percentage of hospital-acquired and deadly infections.
We have identified a naturally human-associated bacterial antibiotic producer strain (S. lugdunensis IVK28 wild type), which may act as a probiotic cure before patients enter hospital. Its application could avoid costly decolonization of human commensal bacteria before surgery.
From this bacterium we furthermore isolated a previously unknown class of peptide related structures with high potential as new antibiotics. Total chemical synthesis has been established.
The main compound Lugdunin shows very high potential against MRSA and other highly-resistant species like Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium (VRE), Streptococcus pneumoniae and Listeria monocytogenes.
A patent application covering the chemical structures, the genetic background of the producer strain and the bioactivity of the new substances has been filed.

Further information: PDF

Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
Phone: +49 (7071) 29-72639

Contact
Dr. Rolf Hecker

As Germany's association of technology- and patenttransfer agencies TechnologieAllianz e.V. is offering businesses access to the entire range of innovative research results of almost all German universities and numerous non-university research institutions. More than 2000 technology offers of 14 branches are beeing made accessable to businesses in order to assure your advance on the market. At www.technologieallianz.de a free, fast and non-bureaucratic access to all further offers of the German research landscape is offered to our members aiming to sucessfully transfer technologies.