At long last, researchers seem to be making progress with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), finding ways to kill the germ before it begins to reproduce in large numbers.
Researchers with Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico have found that applying a simple protein can transform MRSA, as well as other bacteria, from virulent to harmless. The protein inhibits a single cell's signaling molecules, thereby suppressing any genetic reprogramming that could turn the bacterium into its more dangerous form.
At first blush, this sounds like extremely good news for providers. If this approach can be generalized, it could help hospitals fight MRSA strains resistant to current drug treatments. There's often years between lab discoveries and practical applications, but this is at least a start.
The study was published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.
Get more background on the study:
- read this UPI piece
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