Scientists studying the Litoria genimaculata
(green-eyed tree frog) and Litoria aurea (golden bell frog) found that their
toxic skin secretions may be helpful in treating MRSA. the antimicrobial compounds called peptides
that are contained within the skin secretions of these frogs help by puncturing
a hole in the membrane of the antibiotic resistant bacteria, killing it. By
rupturing the bacteria in this manner, it is hard for the bacteria to build a
resistance to the peptides as they do with most antibiotics. Ultimately through
many mutations, bacteria build up a resistance to the antibiotics, which act by
inhibiting the protein synthesis pathway. In order to determine just how the peptides affect the bacteria's membrane the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation's neutron reflectometer was used. This instrument streams a beam of neurons, and the affect of the peptides on the membrane were observed. They found that the positive peptides are attracted to the negative bacteria. Scientist hope that with better understanding of the peptide three dimensional structure and how it affects bacteria membranes, they will eventually be able to increase the peptides effectiveness as an antibiotic.
Litoria aurea
The article expresses a new possible treatment for antibiotic resistant staph infections. With the recent deaths of MRSA patients in Maryland, the idea that a naturally occurring cure is exciting. One issue that may evolve is the status of the golden bell frog population. The golden bell frog is
listed as vulnerable in the IUCN List of Threatened Species. The Australian
native has decreased in population by 30% over the last ten years. It is evident that more research needs to be done to increase the potency of the antibiotic peptides so that they will be effective in treating MRSA in human patients. The author does a very good job in addressing the audience and explaining the subject in simple, easy to understand terms.
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2 comments:
So for the med types who want to help people, they should consider studying frogs, right? Very cool!
Fascinating! I wonder if the antimicrobial peptides from other frog species would have potency against MRSA. I also hope that they're working on synthesizing these potent peptides in the lab, so that they can help humans without decimating these frogs!
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