Bacteria isolated from insects as a source of new antibiotics

Abstract

Infectious diseases have posed public health challenges since ancient times. However, the discovery of the first antibiotics marked a new era, enabling the treatment of many of these diseases. During what could be considered the golden age of antibiotics, most of these life-saving compounds were isolated from soil microorganisms, with the genus Streptomyces being particularly representative. Regrettably, the pace of discovering new antibiotic molecules has slowed down in recent years. Simultaneously, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are becoming increasingly common, leading to a significant crisis. To address this urgent issue, researchers have renewed their search for novel molecules with antibiotic activity. One promising source is insect symbiont bacteria. In this article we present some data about the new research that is being carried out and we invite everyone to take measures to stop antibiotic resistance since the participation of everyone is required to resolve the current crisis.