‘Hospital’ superbug Clostridioides difficile reveals ‘weak spots’
The superbug Clostridioides difficile, or C. diff, can cause dangerous intestinal infections. There are limited treatment options, and patients often face repeated infections, which can be fatal. Now, a new study shows that this dangerous bacterium can quickly develop resistance to antibiotics, although this resistance comes at a cost to the superbug itself. Researchers have identified two different mechanisms of drug resistance in C. difficile.
Wild Gorillas Eat Plants With Antibacterial Properties Against Drug-Resistant E. Coli
Wild gorillas eat the same tree bark used by traditional healers that can inhibit the growth of E. coli in petri dishes, according to a new study. Scientists have found that wild gorillas in Gabon eat some of the same plants used by traditional healers in the region, and these plants show antibacterial properties in the lab.
Arctic expedition discovers actinobacteria that could contain next-generation antibiotics
An analysis of samples collected during an expedition to the Arctic Ocean suggests that marine microbes could be a promising new source of antibiotics. Scientists have found that substances produced by Arctic Ocean microbes called actinobacteria can stop harmful bacteria from growing and causing disease.