A new high-throughput screening method developed by FIU biochemistry professor Fenfei Leng and a team of researchers has identified a previously unknown compound called Pyr-AMC, which could be the basis for creating new antibiotics. The method was specifically designed to find compounds that can interfere with DNA gyrase, an enzyme that is crucial for bacterial survival. This discovery, published in Nucleic Acids Research, comes at a time when antibiotic resistance is becoming a major global health concern, and the search for new treatments for bacterial infections is more urgent than ever. DNA gyrase is essential for bacterial growth and reproduction. It helps untangle and organize DNA so that it can be copied during cell division. Normally, the enzyme briefly cuts DNA strands and then quickly seals them back together. However, Pyr-AMC was found to interfere with this process by trapping DNA gyrase in a state where the DNA is cut, preventing the bacteria from repairing the damage. As broken DNA accumulates, the bacterial cells eventually die. For decades, scientists have been developing antibiotics that target DNA gyrase, with fluoroquinolones being among the most effective classes of these drugs. However, bacteria have become increasingly resistant to these antibiotics, prompting researchers to look for new compounds that can disrupt DNA gyrase in different ways. While Pyr-AMC is not yet strong enough to be used as an antibiotic on its own, it represents a new type of DNA gyrase inhibitor that could be refined and developed into effective treatments. Leng highlighted the need for medicinal chemists to create analogs of Pyr-AMC to enhance its effectiveness and for additional research funding to support the project's progress. The study underscores the potential of the new screening method to uncover rare compounds that could serve as the foundation for future antibiotics. The research was published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research, contributing to the ongoing effort to combat antibiotic resistance.