Norwegian microbiologists from the University of Tromso have discovered a new bacteriocin in the common skin bacterium Staphylococcus haemolyticus (S. haemolyticus). The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Microbiology Spectrum (MS).
Bacteriocins are specific proteins that microbes secrete to suppress other microorganisms in order to facilitate their competition.
The new bacteriocin was named “romsacin” in honor of Romsa, the name of the city of Tromso in the language of the indigenous northern Sami people. It was revealed that rhumsasin secreted by S. haemolyticus effectively prevents the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Scientists noted that not all S. haemolyticus produced the promising substance, only one of the subspecies discovered during the research did.
Microbiologists do not yet know how the discovered bacteriocin acts on humans. The next process will involve extensive testing and development of romsacin-based drugs. The study authors added that it is hoped this could be used to create a new drug for infections that currently have no effective treatments.
Previous scientists discovered The link between antibiotic-resistant bacteria and malnutrition.