It turns out that hundreds of bacteria can actually 'eat' antibiotics, according to researchers at Harvard Medical School. The scientific team isolated bacteria in soil and fed them 18 different antibiotics, including penicillin and ciprofloxacin. And almost all of them started to grow after the exposure. These bacteria could be classified as super resistant.
On the plus side, none of the bacteria found in the soil are a direct threat to humans. On the negative side, human pathogens could at least theoretically acquire resistance to antibiotics through one of their soil-dwelling cousins.
- read the report [1] in the New York Times
ALSO: Researchers in Louisiana say that proteins discovered in alligator blood may prove a potent weapon against serious infections such as MRSA. The team determines that alligators are designed to fight off infections they have never been previously exposed to. And a cream made from alligator blood may prove an effective topical treatment. Report [2]
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