Biosensor That Detects Antibiotic Resistance Brings Us One Step Closer to Fighting Superbugs
This article is about a group of researchers at Auburn University and the Keelser Air Force Base who have developed a new biosensor that can detect antibiotic resistance in bacteria very quickly, in under 10 minutes. The biosensor works by using bacteriophage viruses combined with antibodies that indicate antibiotic resistance. The viruses do not affect humans, but they kill the bacteria. The scientists specifically worked with staphylococcus, which has a superbug strain that is resistant to antibiotics. Recently, antibiotic resistant bacteria, also knows as 'superbugs', have led to more deaths in the US than AIDS. The research team hopes that this valuable research will help create anti-microbial surfaces that will destroy the bacteria. NOS Themes:
Science is based on evidence
Science is collaborative
Importance of repeatability
Role of motivation and curiosity
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That is very useful. We could tell how bad a strain of bacteria could get and see which ones would be the best to work on a cure for first. It seems to me to be somewhat un-useful if the receptor jammers from the video today work. Because then you really can't have any antibiotic resistant bacteria there anyway.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this could help detect treatment resistant cancer cells in the future. Many cancer patients can relapse when a strain of the cancer mutates to become resistant, and if doctors could specifically target those cells, treatment could be changed to become more effective.
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