Scientists uncover how insect-killing bacteria could lead to new antibiotics

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology and the University of Marburg studied how Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria produce GameXPeptides, compounds that kill insects. Reconstructing the evolution of the GxpS enzyme revealed 49 compounds and 53 recombination events, offering clues for discovering antibiotics that overcome resistance.

• Study examined Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria living in insect-killing nematodes
• Reconstruction of GxpS enzyme evolution identified 49 compounds, including side products
• Researchers found 27 synonymous and 26 nonsynonymous recombination events
• GameXPeptides belong to nonribosomal peptides, the class that includes penicillin