Simon Lee a researcher from University of Nottingham has presented exciting new information on how health benefits could be derived from much maligned cockroaches and other insets like crickets. He was making his presentation at General Microbiology's autumn meeting in Nottingham.
Simon and colleagues have identified up to nine different molecules in the insect tissues that were toxic to bacteria. The insects were able to kill more than 90% of Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli, without harming human cells. This could be the harbinger of novel treatments for multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. These new antibiotics could also in future provide alternatives to currently available drugs that may be effective but have serious side effects.
The researchers say "Insects often live in unsanitary and unhygienic environments where they encounter many different types of bacteria. It is therefore logical that they have developed ways of protecting themselves against micro-organisms”
This gives us yet another reason to conserve our biodiversity. We are losing our biodiversity before we even scratch the surface.
No comments:
Post a Comment