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NewsScientists are turning to cobra venom for new weapons against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. By combining AI-driven analysis with lab testing, researchers screened 14 peptides derived from cobra cardiotoxins — and one, CTX-p5, showed promising membrane-disrupting activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It's early days, but the approach opens a novel path in antimicrobial drug discovery.
Researchers are exploring cobra venom as a source for next-generation antimicrobials. A new study published in NPJ Drug Discovery used computational mining and machine learning to identify 14 peptide candidates derived from Naja (cobra) cardiotoxins — proteins naturally evolved to disrupt cell membranes. The goal: find molecules that could do the same to bacteria, particularly drug-resistant strains.
Of the 14 candidates tested, most showed limited antibacterial potency. One standout — CTX-p5 — demonstrated moderate membrane-disrupting activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with relatively low toxicity to human red blood cells. Lab assays confirmed it works by increasing bacterial membrane permeability and causing depolarization, hallmarks of a membrane-active antimicrobial.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: With antibiotic resistance threatening to outpace existing drug options, venom-derived peptides represent a largely untapped reservoir of bioactive molecules. This study provides proof of concept that AI-guided venom mining could help accelerate the search for new antimicrobials.
