Possible Antibiotic for MRSA Superbug 210
darkmeridian writes "Merck has discovered a possible treatment for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, a virulent superbug resistant to many current antibiotics. The new compound, platensimycin, was found in a sample of South African soil and works by preventing the bacteria from assembling fatty acids into its cell membrane. This mechanism of action is novel among antibiotics, most of which currently block DNA assembly or protein assembly. Of course, this product still has to undergo human testing, but apparently looks promising."
Superbug vaccine... (Score:5, Funny)
Oh well... I guess it's good that they may actually get some treatment options for this disease. It sounds horrible. According to http://citypaper.net/articles/2005-03-03/cb2.shtm
So if some stranger in the supermarket asks you to look at their rash and wonders if it's contagious... don't hesitate to punch them. Or maybe you guys don't live in quite the redneck neighborhood that I do...
Travel Time (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Superbug vaccine... (Score:1, Funny)
Great idea...bad-mouth the redneck (in the area you choose to live in no less), then pull a redneck move and punch the offender, thus vastly increasing the chance of you picking said infection up (by your initial contact, and more likely with the resulting scuffle).
How about this--politely decline and walk away.
Re:"Scientific American" Reports on New Antibiotic (Score:2, Funny)
Simple: the bacteria will evolve into human cells. After all, if we can continue to make drugs which kill everything except human cells, they'll just have to evolve into human cells.
Re:MRSA treatment already exists (Score:3, Funny)
Or do you mean that the bacteria grow ears and kidneys? That would be sort of cool.
it's for this reason that it is known as "the mister potato head of the microbial world".
Re:No need. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:A cure you say? (Score:2, Funny)
For people with chronic lung disease, like cystic fibrosis [wikipedia.org], who experience repeated pneumonias and infection with the like of MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa [wikipedia.org], the addition of another antibiotic to the team of vanco and linezolid [wikipedia.org] can literally be a life saver.
Given the life and death reality of our reliance on antibiotics, I'd never classify any bacteria as "no problem." That perspective more than whispers at a superiority complex that could be demolished by the mutation of a tiny little bug. As for me, I'll continue to use them only when necessary and appropriate, and will always finish my prescription!
Re:No need. (Score:4, Funny)
So? (Score:4, Funny)
*ducks*
Re:MRSA treatment already exists (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Another anti-MRSA agent: Mangosteen (Score:3, Funny)
Genetic engineering has gone too far this time. What kind of sicko crossbred a mango with Bruce Springsteen?