Wasp venom offers hope against lung diseases

Some engineers have developed new antimicrobial peptides, which can combat bacteria causing respiratory and other infections, based on a naturally occurring peptide produced by a South American wasp. The venom of insects such as wasps and bees is full of compounds that can kill bacteria. Unfortunately, many of these compounds are also toxic to humans, making it impossible to use them as antibiotic drugs.
 
However, in a study over mice, the team repurposed a toxin normally found in Polybia Paulista -- a South American wasp -- to create variants of the peptide that are potent against bacteria but non-toxic to human cells.

They found that their strongest peptide could completely eliminate Pseudomonas aeruginosa -- a strain of bacteria that causes respiratory and urinary tract infections and is resistant to most antibiotics.

"We've repurposed a toxic molecule into one that is a viable molecule to treat infections," said  a  researcher.

"By systematically analysing the structure and function of these peptides, we've been able to tune their properties and activity," he added.

The peptide,  is small enough --only 12 amino acids -- that the researchers believed it would be feasible to create some variants of the peptide and test them to see if they might become more potent against microbes and less harmful to humans.

The team tested the peptides against seven strains of bacteria and two of fungus, making it possible to correlate their structure and physicochemical properties with their antimicrobial potency.

To measure the peptides' toxicity, the researchers exposed them to human embryonic kidney cells grown in a lab dish. In mice infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the team found that several of the peptides could reduce the infection and could eliminate it completely.

"After four days, that compound can completely clear the infection, and that was quite surprising and exciting because we don't typically see that with other experimental antimicrobial or other antibiotics that we've tested in the past with this particular mouse model," he noted.

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Scientists develop first human kidney tissue capable of producing urine

In a first for medical science, scientists have successfully produced human kidney tissue within a living organism that is able to produce urine, a significant milestone in the development of treatment for kidney disease. Using stem cells, scientists from the University of Manchester, created mini-kidneys that were implanted into mice. Tests revealed they were able to filter and excrete waste. In the study, published in the journal , kidney glomeruli — a constituent microscopic parts of the organ — were generated from human embryonic stem cells grown in plastic laboratory culture dishes. These were combined with a gel like substance, which acted as natural connective tissue — and then injected as a tiny clump under the skin of mice.

After three months, an examination of the tissue revealed that nephrons — the microscopic structural and functional units of the kidney — had formed. The new structures contained most of the constituent parts present in human nephrons — including proximal tubules, distal tubules, Bowman’s capsule and Loop of Henle. Tiny human blood vessels — known as capillaries — had developed inside the mice which nourished the new kidney structures. “We have proved beyond any doubt these structures function as kidney cells by filtering blood and producing urine — though we can’t yet say what percentage of function exists,” said a Professor.

“What is particularly exciting is that the structures are made of human cells which developed an excellent capillary blood supply, becoming linked to the vasculature of the mouse.”

“Though this structure was formed from several hundred glomeruli, and humans have about a million in their kidneys — this is clearly a major advance,” the Prof. said.

However, the mini-kidneys lack a large artery, and without that, the organ’s function will only be a fraction of normal.

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Thus, researchers are working with surgeons to put in an artery that will bring more blood the new kidney.

The results may help create working human kidneys for transplant in people with kidney disease.
Annually, 2.6 million people worldwide receive dialysis or kidney transplantation for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), while around 2.2 million people with kidney disease die prematurely, unable to access treatment.

Kidney transplants are in short supply and an adult on long-term dialysis has an average life expectancy of barely a decade.

Therapies that prevent the progression of chronic kidney disease to end-stage kidney disease are therefore, urgently needed, the researchers said.