News Summary

Researchers at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) have developed innovative antibiotics derived from scorpion venom and habanero peppers. The team identified benzoquinones in the venom of the Diplocentrus melici scorpion, which show efficacy against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus. Collaborations with Stanford University and the Salvador Zubirán National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition validated the findings, showing promising results in mice models. The antibiotics are patented in Mexico and South Africa, with plans for clinical trials and collaboration with pharmaceutical companies for large-scale production. Concurrently, another group at UNAM discovered a peptide in habanero peppers effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a high-priority pathogen due to antibiotic resistance. This led to the development of a new drug, XisHar J1-1, showcasing potential to treat fungal infections as well.