Russian scientists looking for new antibiotics in Antarctica, 2 strains show promise for treating staphylococcus

MOSCOW. May 23 (Interfax) - Microbiologists from the Institute of Experimental Medicine and the Northwestern State Medical University are looking for new antibacterial agents in Antarctica, Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov said at the 11th Nevsky International Environmental Congress in St. Petersburg.

"Public healthcare around the globe is faced with the fact that some infections have stopped responding to conventional drugs. Therefore, scientists are looking for new antibacterial agents. Specialists isolated bacteria from Antarctic soil during previous expeditions. Experiments have established that two strains show promise for treating staphylococcus," Kozlov said.

The Mechnikov Northwestern State University has studied the strains on the orders from the Russian Health Ministry, he said.

Russia has ten stations in Antarctica, including the Vostok winter station commissioned in December 2024, Kozlov said. This season's expedition had over 500 members, including scientists from 32 institutions, among them Moscow State University, the Mining University, the Institute of Geography, the Institute of Oceanology, the Research Institute of Influenza, and others. There were 65 research programs on the scientific plan.