A group of researchers recently discovered a strain of bacteria that is effective against four of the six top antibiotic-resistant infections. Discovered in Northern Ireland soil, this strain of bacteria offers a potential remedy to extremely resistant infections, such as MRSA. This new bacterial strain was discovered by a team of researchers based in Swansea University Medical School, with members residing in Wales, Iraq, Brazil, and Northern Ireland.
“This new strain of bacteria is effective against 4 of the top 6 pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics, including MRSA,” said Swansea University Medical School Professor Paul Dyson. “Our discovery is an important step forward in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
With antibiotic resistant strains potentially causing 1.3 million deaths in Europe be 2050, the World Health Organization describes this issue as “one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today.”
READ MORE: Antibiotic Resistance and the Risk of Recurrent Bacteremia
Named Streptomyces sp. Myrophorea, the new strain was discovered through analysis of soil from Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, in an area known as the Boho Highlands. The area contains alkaline grasslands and is known for its ‘healing’ soil. Dr. Gerry Quinn, former resident of Boho and researcher on this project, had been aware of this healing tradition for years. Historically, locals would wrap the soil in cotton cloth and use it to heal conditions such as toothache, and infections of the throat or neck.
As scientists expand their areas of research to battle antibiotic resistance, researchers have been exploring new areas such as folk medicines, a field labelled ethnopharmacology. Though this may not be commonly viewed as a strong scientific field, it is ultimately what led the researchers to this new strain.
“Our results show that folklore and traditional medicines are worth investigating in the search for new antibiotics,” said Professor Dyson. “Scientists, historians and archaeologists can all have something to contribute to this task. It seems that part of the answer to this very modern problem might lie in the wisdom of the past.”
The researchers found that this new strain displayed inhibition of four of the top six drug-resistant pathogens identified by the World Health Organization as sources of infection. Among these pathogens were vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumonia, and Carbenepenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumanii.
READ MORE: Prophylactic antibiotic therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
It was also observed that the new strain of bacteria inhibited both gram positive and negative bacteria. These two classes of bacteria differ in cell wall structure, with gram negative bacteria tending to have a higher resistance to antibiotics.
The mechanism of inhibition induced by this new strain is unknown, however the researchers are conducting further research into how the strain prevents pathogen growth.
“The discovery of antimicrobial substances from Streptomyces sp.myrophorea will help in our search for new drugs to treat multi-resistant bacteria, the cause of many dangerous and lethal infections,” said researcher Dr Gerry Quinn.
Quinn notes that the team will now focus on identifying and purifying these antibiotics. He also stated that the team had identified other antibacterial species present in the same soil that may cover other drug-resistant infections.
Researchers analysing soil from Ireland long thought to have medicinal properties have discovered that it contains a previously unknown strain of bacteria which is effective against four of the top six superbugs https://t.co/IEOj8GjLPF
— Roger Highfield (@RogerHighfield) December 27, 2018
Source: EurekAlert
© 2025 Mashup Media, LLC, a Formedics Property. All Rights Reserved.