Scientists
in Germany have discovered a bacteria hiding out in peoples’ noses that
produces an antibiotic compound that can kill several dangerous pathogens,
including the superbug MRSA. The early-stage finding could one day lead to a
whole new class of antibiotic medicines being developed to fight drug-resistant
bacterial infections.
As
well as being a focal point for many viral infections, the nasal cavity is also
a rich ecosystem of 50 or so different species of bacteria, lead researcher
Andres Peschel of the University of Tuebingen said. “That’s the reason why we
looked at this particular body site. And it led us to some very unexpected and
exciting findings.” Most antibiotics developed until now have been isolated
from soil-living or other environmental bacteria, but researchers said this
discovery highlights the value of the human micro-biome as a potential new
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