DL: Digital discovery of antimicrobial molecules from marine Arctic resources with reduced risk of triggering resistance

Antimicrobial resistance currently causes around 700,000 deaths annually, with an estimated increase of 10 million over the next 30 years. Continuous development of antimicrobial compounds with new modes of action is important to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance. To help meet this challenge, DigiBiotics is exploring both compounds from marine arctic natural products and molecules identified through genome searches. In addition, DigiBiotics manufactures synthetic molecules inspired by marine natural products, and has developed a number of new experimental and computational methods to determine the structure and dynamics of the molecules, both in solution and when the molecules act on bacteria. This gives us a better understanding of peptide-membrane interactions and gives us an insight into the mechanism of action at the atomic level. We have so far found several interesting molecules from marine microorganisms, and these inspire the design of synthetic analogues. DigiBiotics has also come a long way in developing new methods for investigating how these molecules work. Our goal is that the new molecules and working methods that DigiBiotics has developed will contribute to us getting new and better antibiotics.

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Antimicrobial resistance is currently causing around 700 000 deaths annually, with an estimated rise to 10 million over the next 30 years. Continuous development of antimicrobial compounds with new modes of action is essential to reduce the risk posed by antimicrobial resistance. To contribute to meeting this challenge, DigiBiotics will explore new compounds inspired by marine Arctic natural products and develop novel experimental and computational methods for determining molecular structure and dynamics. This will allow for a better understanding of peptide-membrane interactions and provide an atomic basis for the development of new drug targets. Promising compounds will be refined to compounds acceptable for industrial drug development.