Scientists at MIT have found a potent antibiotic derived from wasp venom that could kill microbes resistant to conventional antibacterials. It was already known that wasp and bee venom contains peptides that kill bacteria, but these compounds have also proven to be toxic to human cells. Fortunately, the researchers zeroed in on the venom of a wasp from South America and observed that it could be easily manipulated within the lab to make it non-toxic. The findings could be useful for developing new antibiotics from other naturally-occurring antimicrobial peptides.
Scientists managed to develop an antibiotic from wasp venom
More of Today's Solutions
Oakland kids can now borrow sports gear for free at this special library
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Youth sports in the United States now cost the average family about $1,016 a year per child, up ...
Read MoreThe case for clearing your calendar one weekend a month
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Summer has a way of sneaking up on you. In May, you were excited about everything: the outdoor ...
Read MoreUK police go undercover in Surrey as runners to crack down on street harassment
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Eighteen people have been arrested in Surrey, UK, after undercover police officers posed as female joggers to identify ...
Read MoreMexico’s jaguar numbers rise: conservation sparks a 30 percent increase
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Good news for the jaguar, a species often teetering on the edge of survival: Mexico has just recorded ...
Read More
