Evolution: bacteria's' role in human therapy (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, July 12, 2021, 19:17 (1228 days ago) @ David Turell

we can modify friendly bacteria to stop pathogenic bacteria:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210712122106.htm

"A recent trial has shown that nose drops of modified 'friendly' bacteria may protect against meningitis.

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"Around 10% of adults carry N. meningitidis in the back of their nose and throat with no signs or symptoms. However, in some people it can invade the bloodstream. That can lead to life-threatening conditions including meningitis and blood poisoning ('septicaemia).

"The 'friendly' bacteria Neisseria lactamica (N. lactamica) also lives in some people's noses naturally. By occupying the nose, it protects from a severe type of meningitis. It does so by denying a foothold to its close cousin Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis).

"The new data build on the team's previous work aiming to exploit this natural phenomenon. That study showed nose drops of N. lactamica prevented N. meningitidis from settling in 60% of participants.

"For those people, N. lactamica had locked out its deadly cousin. That drove work to make N. lactamica even more effective in displacing N. meningitidis.

"The team did so by handing it one of N. meningitidis' key weapons; a 'sticky' surface protein that grips the cells lining the nose. By inserting a copy of the gene for this protein into N. lactamica's DNA, it could also it -- levelling the playing field.

"As well as inducing a stronger immune response, those modified bacteria stayed longer. Present for at least 28 days, with most participants (86%) still carrying it at 90 days, it caused no adverse symptoms."

Comment: We humans can use our God-given brains to use bacteria for our benefit.