Slipping oysters may not only satisfy your seafood cravings.
australian scientist discovered a protein This component, found in the blood of Sydney rock oysters, not only kills bacteria, but also enhances the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics.
This discovery could be a game-changer in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.A looming global health crisis”
Superbugs are on the rise
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria and other bacteria evolve to become more powerful than the antibiotics designed to kill them. This is often due to overuse or misuse.
Infections caused by these so-called “superbugs” are more difficult, if not impossible, to treat. More than 1 million lives have been claimed worldwide Every year since 1990.
The situation is expected to worsen further. a 2024 survey They predicted that without intervention, antibiotic-resistant infections could kill more than 39 million people by 2050, or three people every minute.
Researchers at Southern Cross University believe Sydney's rock oysters could play a role in the fight against a growing health crisis.
nature's secret weapon
When developing new drugs, scientists often look to nature for inspiration, focusing on organisms that have built-in defense mechanisms against infection. In fact, more than 90% of the antibiotics we rely on today are derived from natural sources.
“Oysters are a great place to look for potential antibiotics because they're constantly filtering out bacteria in the water,” said study co-author Kirsten Benckendorff, an interdisciplinary marine scientist at Southern Cross. Ta. statement.
in previous researchResearchers have discovered that proteins found in systemic lymph (also known as oyster blood) are effective at killing Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes, the bacteria that cause pneumonia and strep throat, respectively. .
Bacteria typically evade antibiotics and the immune system by forming clusters called biofilms, wrapping themselves in a sticky protective layer.
Researchers found that oyster hemolymph proteins block biofilm formation and penetrate existing biofilms, allowing antibiotics to more effectively target bacteria.
In clinical tests, oyster protein made antibiotics 32 times more effective against a variety of dangerous respiratory pathogens.
The results are effective against Staphylococcus aureus, a major cause of drug-resistant skin and bloodstream infections, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a serious threat to immunocompromised cystic fibrosis patients. It was particularly promising.
Importantly, the researchers say that oyster hemolymph protein is not toxic to healthy human cells, meaning it could be used to develop natural products to treat bacterial infections. It suggests that the day may come. However, they cautioned that further research in animals and humans is needed.
“In the meantime, slurping oysters may help keep respiratory bugs away,” Benkendorf says. “Oysters contain zinc, which boosts the immune system, and they contain very good polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamins that also help regulate immunity.”
Slimy molluscs and their shells have long been a staple of people. traditional medicine It treats everything from inflammatory conditions and insomnia to high blood pressure and heart palpitations.
And while there is no scientific evidence that oysters increase sexual desire, they have long been considered a natural aphrodisiac.
