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
11,000 jobs, $1.4 billion in savings: what a decade of green banking built in...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM An impressive $14.7 million from the city. $1.3 billion in economic investment returned. $1.4 billion in energy savings. ...
Read MoreResearch reveals honeybees use the same face-reading strategy as humans
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The human brain contains approximately 86 billion neurons. A honeybee brain contains roughly one million, packed into about ...
Read MoreHow to deal with panic attacks: Understanding the calming effects of brainspo...
The overpowering drive to restore control during a panic episode can be all-consuming. Breathing exercises and other techniques can help, but brainspotting, which makes ...
Read MorePromising antibody drug provides hope for those with type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes, a disorder in which the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells, has long been difficult to treat effectively. However, researchers at Johns ...
Read More
