Overview
- Researchers at UNAM isolated and synthesized two scorpion‑venom benzoquinones and a habanero‑derived peptide, with validation from Stanford’s Richard Zare and pathologist Rogelio Hernández Pando.
- The blue benzoquinone killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mouse models and later showed activity against Acinetobacter baumannii.
- The red benzoquinone inhibited Staphylococcus aureus, a frequent cause of severe infections in hospitals.
- A lab‑made version of the habanero peptide, XisHar J1‑1, stopped Pseudomonas aeruginosa in lab tests, though only against a standard strain rather than patient isolates.
- The team holds patents in Mexico and South Africa and is developing nanoparticle formulations while seeking partners and funding to advance into preclinical and clinical trials.