Scientists have made a shocking new discovery, revealing that a common seafood could be key in battling the next health crisis.
Overuse of antibiotics in recent years has caused such drugs to become less effective – and has led to superbugs emerging, according to the NHS.
But researchers at Southern Cross University believe that Sydney rock oysters could be a game-changer.
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Experiments have found a protein – called hemolymph – in the seafood that could not only kill bacteria responsible for illnesses such as strep throat and pneumonia, but could also boost the power of conventional antibiotics.
Bacteria usually dodges antibiotics and the immune system by forming clusters called biofilms.
Scientists found that the oyster protein helped to block the formation of biofilms and could penetrate existing clusters.
This would allow for antibiotics to fight bacteria more effectively.
Lab tests by the team in Lismore, Australia, showed hemolymph’s increased the effectiveness of antibiotics against a range of dangerous respiratory pathogens by as much as 32 times.
The findings of the study have been published in a journal, as reported by Need To Know.
“Most organisms have natural defence mechanisms to protect themselves against infection,” said Kirsten Benkendorff, study co-author and interdisciplinary marine scientist at Southern Cross.
“Oysters are constantly filtering bacteria from the water, so they are a good place to look for potential antibiotics.”
The results were particularly promising for treating golden staph infections and a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can significantly affect patients with cystic fibrosis.
Hemolymph was found not to be toxic to healthy human cells, giving hope that it could one day be used to develop drugs to treat bacterial infections.
Researchers did however caution that further study in animals and humans is needed.
