In my lab we've been working on a new concept in reducing the harm caused by bacterial infections.
Many bacteria have a system for determining their own population density.
This was originally discovered in the bioluminescent bacteria where the new thing is light production. In pathogenic bacteria, the new thing is to invade the organism. For instance, patients with cystic fibrosis or immune-compromised patients, such as those with AIDS or people getting transplants or the elderly, can get their lungs infected with the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. As such, that's not too bad and just produces slime and a lot of coughing. Then they're in the blood stream and the patient is history.