Researchers have found a shared genetic 'megacluster' in Streptomyces bacteria. This cluster produces a group of antibiotics that work together to attack the way bacteria produce biotin, an essential vitamin.

研究人員在鏈黴菌中發現了一個共有的基因「巨簇」。這個基因簇會產生一組抗生素，共同作用以攻擊細菌產生生物素（一種必需維生素）的方式。

In the past, scientists usually looked for single active molecules to create antibiotics. However, recent evidence shows that some bacteria use coordinated systems of multiple molecules. In this study, researchers identified a megacluster in Streptomyces that produces four different antibiotic families and a protein called streptavidin. Together, these components stop bacterial growth by blocking enzymes and trapping biotin, which the bacteria need to survive.

過去，科學家通常尋找單一活性分子來研發抗生素。然而，最近的證據顯示，某些細菌使用由多個分子組成的協調系統。在本次研究中，研究人員在鏈黴菌中鑑定出一個巨簇，能產生四個不同的抗生素家族以及一種稱為鏈黴親和蛋白的蛋白質。這些成分共同作用，透過阻斷酵素並捕捉細菌生存必需的生物素，來停止細菌生長。

This discovery is important because it suggests that we should study these natural combinations rather than just single compounds. The researchers tested this genetic structure in laboratory strains and found that the resulting metabolites are very effective against Gram-negative and mycobacterial species. Furthermore, a combination of two specific compounds showed strong results in treating drug-resistant E. coli in mice. Because this genetic structure is found in many different species, it suggests that nature has optimized this system to prevent bacteria from developing resistance.

這項發現至關重要，因為它表明我們應該研究這些天然組合，而非僅僅研究單一化合物。研究人員在實驗室菌株中測試了此基因結構，發現其產生的代謝產物對革蘭氏陰性菌和分枝桿菌屬非常有效。此外，兩種特定化合物的組合在治療小鼠體內的耐藥大腸桿菌時顯示出強大的效果。由於這種基因結構存在於許多不同物種中，這表明自然界已優化此系統，以防止細菌產生耐藥性。

The discovery of this megacluster provides a useful model for creating combination therapies that target essential metabolic processes to fight drug-resistant bacteria.

這個巨簇的發現提供了一個有用的模型，可用於創建針對必需代謝過程的組合療法，以對抗耐藥細菌。