# Investigation of a Natural Antibiotic's Properties Effective against Resistant Opportunistic Pathogenic Infections

## TL;DR

This study discovers a new natural antibiotic from soil bacteria in Kazakhstan that effectively fights drug-resistant bacteria like MRSA and E. coli.

## Contribution

The discovery of a new antibiotic-producing streptomycete from Kazakhstani soil with strong activity against resistant pathogens.

## Key findings

- Isolate No. 312 showed strong antagonistic activity against MRSA and ESBL E. coli.
- The new antibiotic inhibited S. aureus with a 32 mm zone and E. coli with a 20 mm zone.
- The study highlights the potential of Kazakhstani soils for antibiotic discovery.

## Abstract

The widespread use of antibiotics has led to several negative consequences, including the development of multidrug resistance in microorganisms to previously effective medications. Antibiotic resistance is an increasingly critical issue in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The problem is complicated by the decline in the development of innovative drugs to combat the most dangerous and resistant pathogens. One approach to addressing this challenge is to search for producers of new natural compounds with antibiotic activity. The primary objective of this study was to identify streptomycetes capable of synthesizing complex antibiotics with antibacterial properties. In this study, actinomycetes were isolated from the arid soils in Kazakhstan, followed by the analysis of their antagonistic properties. The greatest interest was generated by isolate No. 312, obtained from rocky soils of the Almaty region and grown on oat agar. The article describes the biochemical, cultural-taxonomic, and antagonistic properties of the new actinomycete. The new antibiotic exhibited the strongest antagonistic activity against clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli (ESBL) with various types of resistance. The inhibition zone diameter for S. aureus was 32 ± 0.2 mm, and for E. coli—20 ± 0.1 mm. This field is actively advancing in leading countries worldwide and holds particular importance for Kazakhstan, where the biotechnological industry lacks domestic producers of antibiotics currently used in medical practice, as well as producers of new competitive pharmaceuticals.