Chemicals in the brains of cockroaches and locusts could cure MRSA, a study at the University of Nottingham has found.
Cockroaches and locusts could be more of a health benefit than health hazard according to scientists at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, who believe powerful antibiotic properties in the insect brains could lead to novel treatments for multi-drug resistant bacterial infections
The study found that the tissues of the insect’s brain and nervous system were able to kill more than 90 per cent of MRSA and pathogenic Escherichia coli, without harming human cells.
Simon Lee, a postgraduate researcher at the University of Nottingham, said the insect brains hold powerful antibiotic properties after discovering up to nine different molecules in the tissues that were toxic to bacteria.
MRSA infections cost Irish hospitals more than €23 million annually, according to a report conducted by a multidisciplinary advisory group including microbiologists, hospital pharmacists and patient advocates, and sponsored by healthcare firm Pfizer.
The report found patients with such an infection stayed in hospital 2.5 times longer than those who did not and were 7.1 times more likely to die.