Yesterday I wrote about a research team that has developed a protein to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria by boosting the immune system.
Now another research team from Rockefeller University has developed a modified viral protein called lysin to directly combat bacteria that thrive on a weakened immune system (such as that found in flu patients).
They have developed forms of lysin to target bacteria that cause middle ear infections, strep throat, pneumonia and meningitis.
The main idea here is to bypass the need to use antibiotics which run the more dangerous risk of producing antibiotic-resistant bacteria, aka superbugs.
Currently the research has been done in mice but human trials are expected to begin soon. Read more.
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