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MIT engineers repurpose wasp venom as an antibiotic drug
The venom of insects such as wasps and bees is full of compounds that can kill bacteria. Unfortunately, many of these compounds are also toxic for humans, making it impossible to use them as antibiotic drugs.
After performing a systematic study of the antimicrobial properties of a toxin normally found in a South American wasp, researchers at MIT have now created variants of the peptide that are potent against bacteria but nontoxic to human cells.
In a study of mice, the researchers found that their strongest peptide could completely eliminate Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a strain of bacteria that causes respiratory and other infections and is resistant to most antibiotics.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Sunday December 09 2018, @05:08PM (5 children)
"Are you allergic to anything?"
"Work, pain, sharps, and stupid people."
"How about wasps?"
"They've never bothered me, aside from that sharp pointy ovipositor thing."
"You don't have reactions to wasp stings, then?"
"Never have.?
"Fine then, we're going to start you on this experimental antibiotic, which probably won't have any side effects, such as giant wasps eating their way out of your chest, ala Alien."
"That's what I like about you, Doc. You have a helluva bedside manner."
(Score: 2) by legont on Sunday December 09 2018, @05:14PM (4 children)
There are urban legends about an exceptional health of bee keepers all the time and in distant cultures. My childhood image of a bee guy is a white bearded old man teasing a young woman. Perhaps we adapt to the poison but enjoy the protection?
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday December 09 2018, @05:17PM
Yes, women do adapt to us poisonous old men, but they enjoy our protection.
Oh, wait - that isn't what you meant? :^)
(Score: 2, Funny) by Ethanol-fueled on Monday December 10 2018, @12:46AM (2 children)
It's the honey they eat, not the bee poison. If they weren't being stung by bees all the damn time they'd be Nazi supermen.
(Score: 2) by legont on Monday December 10 2018, @01:03AM (1 child)
Didn't you mistype eat with drink?
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 2) by arulatas on Tuesday December 11 2018, @04:35PM
Mead it does a body good.
----- 10 turns around