Scientists Search for Kryptonite to Defeat Drug-Resistant Super Bugs

Many Believe that a Supervirus will be the Doom of Mankind

This theory has been gaining more popularity lately, as many new drug-resistant superbugs have been not only been killing people, but birds, fish and even pigs across the globe.

With birds falling from the sky while people are dying in modern hospitals from mysterious staff infections, its no wonder that people's imaginations are running amok. While religious doomsday sayers preach about biblical plagues many heathen conspiracy theorists believe the diseases were manufactured in government labs to implement some sort of population reduction.

Meanwhile, public health officials are worried about the rising number of new drug resistant superbugs, as well as of the overuse of antibiotics, hand sanitizers and home disinfectants. The overuse of atibiotic drugs and cleaners could make these bacteria resistant to them, so that they would no longer work for even curing minor viral infections, including flu, coughs, colds and sore throats.  

Fortunately, a team of Canadian scientists discovered that specific mixtures of antimicrobial agents presented in lipid (fatty) mixtures can significantly boost the effectiveness of those agents to kill the resistant bacteria.

Thank God these "Super bugs," which can cause wide-spread disease and may be resistant to most, if not all, conventional antibiotics, still have their weaknesses.

According to Richard Epand, Ph.D. from the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Science at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, a researcher involved in the study, "This study may contribute to overcoming the lethal effects of drug resistant bacteria that is becoming an increasing clinical problem, particularly in hospitals."

Their discovery came when Epand and colleagues conducted experiments using groups of mice infected with lethal doses of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli). The rresearchers then treated the mice with conventional drug combinations or drug combinations encapsulated in lipid mixtures. They found that certain lipid mixtures caused the drugs to act together in a synergistic manner. In this mano, the drugs were far more effective in increasing the survival rate of the lab rats, as they overcame the cellular mechanisms used by these bacteria to defeat therapeutic agents.

This study also demonstrated a new use of the premier family of antimicrobial agents called oligo-acyl-lysyls, which have the potential to be combined with other drugs to yield a platform for other specific applications.

Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal said, "as we've seen in the recent E. coli outbreak in Germany, bacteria can mutate to become super bugs that resist antibiotics. Thanks to this new, lipid-based antibiotic therapy, multidrug-resistant bacteria may begin to look more like Jimmy Olsen and a lot less like Superman."

I'm sorry if I don't jump for joy about these new findings. Bugs have a way of mutating into ever more ugly organisms. I happen to be one of those, who believe that humanity will not end by war, global warming or pollution. I believe the death of mankind will come through a small, microscopic bug. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next year, or even in ten years, but the day will come.

What do you think? Do you think science will outsmart bacteria and viruses? Do you believe we will someday conquer disease? Maybe enable people to live longer? Please leave your comment bellow!

Written By: Tom Retterbush

Viruses vs. Superbugs: A Solution to the Antibiotics Crisis?

Once upon a time, before penicillin, medicine's perpetual battle with bacterial infection was waged with biological weapons. Phages--viruses that kill bacteria but are harmless to humans--were used to perform duties for which they seemed uniquely destined. The problem is that greater and greater numbers of serious bacteria are becoming antibiotic resistant. With nearly 90,000 Americans dying each year because antibiotic treatments are no longer effective, something must be done. Hausler proposes renewed investigation into bacteriophage therapy but paints a dismal picture of its likelihood. It is, he says, effective and organic but unlikely to become a cash cow for pharmaceutical companies. Donna Chavez
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Source Science Daily News Release