Scientists at the Rockefeller University launched the "Drugs from Dirt" program with the aim of collecting soil samples from different parts of the world in the quest for developing new medicines.
Researchers suggest that there are far more microbes present in just one teaspoon of soil than there are humans beings on earth. However, only a small fraction of the microbes have ever been cultured. Trivial numbers of these microbes that have potential clinical use have ever been studied by scientists.
Scientists at the Rockefeller University claim that they have examined soils from forests, deserts and beaches on five different continents. However, they want to collect more soil samples from exceptional environmental areas such as city parks, islands, hot springs and caves for their research. The scientists are also inviting citizens to send them soil samples via the Drugs from Dirt program.
Till now the scientists have collected about 185 soil samples from North America, Australia, South America, Africa and Asia. They have also collected samples from Dominican Republic and Hawaii islands. The researchers suggest that the "biosynthetic" content study of soils can help in the discovery of new drugs for various medical conditions.
"Uncultured bacteria from the environment could provide a dazzling array of new molecules, many of which could become new medicines," says Zachary Charlop-Powers postdoctoral fellow from the Rockefeller University, who is also the lead author or the study.
The study aims to create a map of the chemicals that are produced by microbes found in the soil across the world.
The researchers point out that a many antibiotics, which are used today, are actually derived from the bacteria present in the soil but the discovery of new drugs is still low. The study suggests that for every cultured bacteria type there are about 100 uncultivated species.
The research group made a comparison of the DNA derived from bacteria grown in labs and DNA derived environmentally. The analysis found that soils were particularly rich in gene clusters that are good in producing therapeutics.
The study estimates that soil samples have microbes that can be used in production of antibiotics used for treating tuberculosis.
The scientists hope that people send them soil samples from different places, which they can analyze for potentially developing new medicines as well as improving existing versions of medicines.
