A middle school student in Chicago has made a groundbreaking discovery, isolating a bacterium from goose poop that shows antibiotic activity and produces a novel natural compound with cancer-fighting properties. The student, part of a 14-week educational outreach program, worked under the supervision of researchers from the University of Illinois to isolate Pseudomonas idahonensis, a gram-negative bacteria species.
The bacterium’s natural compound, orfamide N, has been found to inhibit more than 90% of the growth of a skin infection-causing bacteria. In laboratory tests, orfamide N slowed the growth of melanoma and ovarian cancer cells, showing promise as a potential new medicine.
The discovery highlights the importance of searching for antibacterial compounds in nature, particularly as antibiotic resistance becomes a growing concern. The University of Illinois researchers hope that this initiative will inspire young learners to pursue careers in scientific research and contribute to finding new medicines against bacterial infections and cancer.
This is just one example of how hands-on educational programs can lead to cutting-edge discoveries, and scientists are cautiously optimistic about the potential of orfamide N as a breakthrough in natural product discovery.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/chicago-school-kid-discovers-new-cancer-fighting-compound-in-bird-poop