'Living antibiotics' from bacteria

A British study showed that a meat-eating bacterium significantly reduces the amount of salmonella bacteria in living chickens, opening up the ability to use the bacterium as a " living antibiotic ".

According to Top News , the University of Nottingham team found bdellovibrio reduced up to 90% of salmonella bacteria and chickens remained healthy and well-developed.

Salmonella thrives in the intestines of poultry and other animals, and can cause food poisoning in humans.

BDellovibrio bacteria (photo: sciencephotolibrary)

' Bdellovibrio can be used as a live antibiotic against some dangerous pathogens in humans and animals, such as E. coli and other bacteria, ' said Dr. Laura Hobley, a member of the group. research, said.

British experts believe that bdellovibrio may be particularly useful in drug treatment for wounds or foot sores, but they also want to know what can happen if it is digested, accidental or available. intentionally required treatment.

Previous research has shown that bdellovibrio is very effective in invading and killing other bacterial cells in vitro. And now it has the potential to replace antibiotics in the context that bacterial resistance is a major problem for human and animal health.

The research was published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology .