“Scientists find potential disease-fighting ‘warheads’ hidden in bacteria”

“Bacteria found in soil may harbor a potential game-changer for drug design. A new study by Scripps Research, published today in Nature Communications, suggests scientists could build better drugs by learning from bacteria-derived molecules called thiocarboxylic acids.

The finding comes from Ben Shen, PhD, and his colleagues on the Florida campus of Scripps Research. The team investigates “natural products” made by organisms such as soil-dwelling bacteria.

“We use natural products as an inspiration for chemistry, biology and drug discovery,” says Shen, professor and co-chair of the Department of Chemistry at Scripps Research.

Thiocarboxylic acids caught Shen’s attention because of their rarity in nature and similarity to lab-made molecules called carboxylic acids. Carboxylic acids are good “warheads” because they can home in on biological targets, making them a key ingredient in many antibiotics, heart disease medications, and more.”