Press release University of Groningen, following the thesis defence of Dr. J. Siebring (Microbial Physiology, GBB, RUG): http://www.rug.nl/news/2010/01/017_10
Antibiotics cheaper to produce; fundamental new insights into bacteria
By switching off a single gene, the bacteria Streptomyces coelicolor can produce up to six times as much antibiotic. This is revealed in research carried out by biologist Jeroen Siebring, who is graduating from the University of Groningen on 5 February 2010. Thanks to this fundamental new insight, it may well be possible to produce important strains of antibiotics more cheaply in the future.