Tag

Megacluster

All articles tagged with #megacluster

Genome-Mined Megacluster Signals Synergy in Biotin-Targeting Antibiotics
science2 months ago

Genome-Mined Megacluster Signals Synergy in Biotin-Targeting Antibiotics

A Nature paper reports a megacluster of four gene clusters in Streptomyces that produce three antibiotics plus a biotin-pathway mimic, which together disrupt biotin synthesis in bacteria and show synergistic killing in lab and animal tests, revealing a new genome-mining strategy to revive natural-product antibiotics, though extensive work remains before clinical use.

Soil megacluster yields multi-target antibiotics against biotin biosynthesis
science2 months ago

Soil megacluster yields multi-target antibiotics against biotin biosynthesis

Researchers identified a megacluster of biosynthetic genes in Streptomyces that encodes four antibiotics—stravidins, acidomycin, α-Me-KAPA, and dapamycins—plus the biotin‑targeting protein streptavidin, all aimed at blocking vitamin B7 (biotin) production at different steps, a multi‑pronged approach that could slow resistance and guide new antibiotic development.