Scientists to unleash potent proteins in hospital superbug battle
A TEAM of researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons is hoping to make a breakthrough in the battle against MRSA and other hospital superbugs. The group, headed by Dr Marc Devocelle, believes it may have discovered how to treat patients with powerful proteins that can kill off resistant strains of superbugs -- without harming humans. The proteins, called host defence peptides, have been identified as a major weapon in the fight against resistant strains of bacteria and cancer cells. However, they are so potent that they could be toxic when affecting the entire body. Dr Devocelle believes he has developed a way of activating them only at the site of infection, where they can kill off MRSA without harming patients. These proteins could also kill bacteria that cause life-threatening bloodstream infections and can be resistant to all available antibiotics (multi-drug resistant bacteria). "During a research programme funded by Science Foundation Ireland, we have designed and developed the drug delivery systems for both MRSA and multi-drug resistant bacteria," he says. "In collaboration with Beaumont Hospital, we have already proved that it can work on some laboratory bacteria and we are currently optimising the drugs to make sure they are active on clinical bacteria, which are far more aggressive.
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