Scientists Discover New Component of the Immune System with Antibiotic Potential

Scientists have identified a novel component of the immune system that could pave the way for new antibiotics. The discovery centers on the proteasome, a structure present in every cell of the body. Researchers found that when a cell is infected by bacteria, the proteasome changes its function, transforming old proteins into weapons capable of destroying the bacteria's outer layer. Professor Yifat Merbl of the Weizmann Institute of Science, speaking to the BBC, described the finding as "truly exciting." She noted that this previously unknown immune mechanism, occurring in all cells, could lead to the development of a new class of natural antibiotics.