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Lugdunin: the secret weapon of an indomitable bacterium
Once upon a time, an invisible battle was raging deep inside our noses. A microscopic battlefield, where bacteria fought relentlessly to defend their territory. Picture a small village of indomitable Gauls, surrounded on all sides… but instead of Romans, it’s microbes. And in this surprisingly strategic setting, a most unexpected antibiotic was discovered: lugdunin.
Let’s go back to 2016.
A German research team led by Andreas Peschel asked a deceptively simple question:
Why are some people never colonized by Staphylococcus aureus, even though it is so widespread in the population? The answer didn’t come from a major pharmaceutical lab, but from a discreet resident of the nasal mucosa: Staphylococcus lugdunensis.
This commensal bacterium, well established in our noses, produces a previously unknown molecule: lugdunin — a low molecular weight cyclic peptide with remarkable antimicrobial activity. A sort of magic potion… in microbial form.
Lugdunin can effectively inhibit the growth of S. aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains. A rare feat, especially at a time when the discovery of new natural antibiotics has become exceptional — and even more so when they originate from the human microbiota.
Mechanistically, lugdunin is thought to act by disrupting bacterial membranes and modulating host innate immunity, although its exact mode of action has yet to be fully clarified. In vivo studies have shown a significant reduction in colonization in murine skin infection models — opening up very promising perspectives. In other words: a sophisticated microbial weapon, shaped by evolution, and nestled right in the heart of our nose.
But the implications of this discovery go well beyond its surprising origin.
It reveals that the human microbiota represents a vast and largely untapped reservoir of potential antibiotics. By observing bacterial interactions in situ — where true ecological battles take place — researchers can uncover natural competitive strategies that far surpass those revealed by artificial cultures.
What if the next generation of antibiotics doesn’t come from far-off laboratories… but from our own microbiomes?
At Smaltis, we believe that overcoming the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance requires this kind of approach: studying complex microbial ecosystems, understanding their rules of engagement, identifying the bioactive molecules they produce, and supporting their exploitation through bioproduction. Whether it’s a nose, an intestine, or a forest soil — these indomitable bacteria still have so much to teach us.
See you soon for the next episode of the Smaltis’tory!