Possible answer to antibiotic resistance Research is unmasking the structure of protein switches that play a role in transforming bacteria into lethal microbes. That could lead to antibiotics that fill a void left by bacteria becoming increasingly resistant to traditional drugs. Current antibiotics can induce resistance in bacteria in as little as six months, but work led by researchers at Brandeis University describes the potential for a whole new class of antibiotics that could prevent pathogenic bacteria from becoming virulent and attacking the body's cells. It's the first time the structure of such a short-lived protein has been pinpointed by scientists. Reconsider that reptile Pet iguanas, snakes and lizards could affect your health and the environment, warns the Humane Society of the United States.
All reptiles produce salmonella naturally and can transmit infections to humans.
Reptile-associated salmonella infections have increased in recent years as the popularity of pet reptiles has risen, says a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. These infections can lead to more serious illnesses, such as sepsis and meningitis and can particularly affect infants and the elderly. In a six-month study published in the journal Circulation, researchers reported that patients given the drug abciximab had a lower rate of heart attack or death compared to patients who did not receive the drug. This also held true for patients who had their blocked arteries opened with angioplasty but who did not receive the stent, which holds the artery open. But the stent-abciximab combination did the best.