Cockroaches Offer New Antibiotics For Stronger Diseases

Cockroaches Offer New Antibiotics For Stronger Diseases

By Shinji Tutoru

UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM, NOTTINGHAM, UK. Scientists have recently discovered that the insect world is full of new antibiotics that may be very beneficial to the human race. Insects make up 80 percent of all animals on earth which means we have a very abundant source of possible antibiotics. It has been recently discovered that the central nervous systems in the brain of American cockroaches can actually produce natural antibiotics. These antibiotics can get rid of bacteria like MRSA or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and toxic strains of Escherichia coli which are often considered as deadly to humans.

This is such a medical breakthrough because for decades, scientists have been looking for possible ways to fight several infectious diseases that are resistant to standard antibiotics such as MRSA and E. coli. Everyone seems to be looking too far for the solution to these infectious diseases when the actual solution comes crawling by right under our noses and we don’t even notice it. In fact, nobody else is actually looking in unusual places for possible solutions.

Simon Lee is the study co-author from the University of Nottingham in the UK. They have discovered that the brains of insects have naturally clever defense against bacteria. During the study, his team dissected the brains and tissues of cockroaches. They also tested nine different types of antibacterial molecules which were found in the brain of the cockroaches. The results showed that each antibacterial molecule is made to kill a particular type of bacteria.

The clever part about the bug’s defense mechanism is the ability to survive in the dirtiest places. Although antibiotics for humans from insect brains won’t happen for a few years, it is no longer a dream because the studies conducted gave out promising results. That means it is only a matter of time before we get to enjoy the benefits of this medical discovery.

Invention Cockroaches As Natural Antibiotics
Organization University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
Researcher Simon Lee
Field(s) Antibiotics, Insects, Cockroaches, Locusts, Natural Antibiotics, Infectious Diseases, MRSA, Escherichia Coli
Further Information National Geographic

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