Calay News
Scientists at a German research institute have discovered certain bacterial compounds that have the power to kill fungus. Reminded of the lethal action of Hollywood star Keanu Reeves in his famous role as John Wick, the researchers named the compounds “keanumycins.” These compounds can eradicate fungi harmful to both plants and humans with deadly precision, just like Keanu Reeves’ character in the movie.
Dr. Pierre Stallforth, one of the researchers and a professor of paleo biotechnology at the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology in Jena, Germany, said, “Keanu Reeves plays many iconic roles in which he is extremely efficient in ‘inactivating’ his enemies. The keanumycins do the same with fungi.”
The researchers believe that these compounds could be used in agriculture, where fungal infections cause billions of dollars’ worth of damage to crops each year. The compounds could also be developed into antifungal drugs to combat infections in humans.
The discovery of the keanumycins came as a surprise to the researchers, as they were not actively looking for a fungicide. Instead, they were investigating the antibacterial properties of the bacterial compound they had isolated.
The potential use of keanumycins in agriculture and medicine could be significant, as fungal infections can be extremely harmful to plants and humans. In recent years, there have been increasing concerns about the development of drug-resistant fungal infections, which could be combated by new types of antifungal drugs.
While naming the keanumycins after Keanu Reeves may seem frivolous, it is actually a common practice in science. New discoveries are often named after people or things that have inspired the researchers or that are related to the subject matter.
