Health & Medicine
A Little Turkey Might Help Cure An Infection
Kathleen Lees
First Posted: Nov 28, 2014 12:32 PM EST
Could eating Thanksgiving turkey actually help cure an infection? Researchers at Brigham Young University (BYU) seem to think so. They found that good bacterium, known as strain 115, can produce a life-saving antibiotic that's commonly found in turkeys.
Though the bacterium was believed to be lost until just recently, research shows that the antibiotic known as MPI can be used to target several infections including throat, gastrointestinal disease, staph, strep and a host of bacterial infections.
During the study, researchers worked to isolate the bacterium, with research that largely resulted in the treatment of diseases for turkeys.
"Our research group is certainly thankful for turkeys. The good bacteria we're studying has been keeping turkey farms healthy for years and it has the potential to keep humans healthy as well," ," said BYU microbiologist Joel Griffitts who is part of the research team, in a news release.
Researchers said they discovered the strain in turkeys, which was unlike what they had seen in their current research. Furthermore, they believe the 115 strain had been available for nearly three decades.
"Sometimes bacteria retire with the people who discover them. We simply rediscovered it and now we are capitalizing on it once again," Griffitts concluded.
Interestingly, the bacterium is not killed by the antibiotic it produces. Researchers discovered that DNA inside the strain helps to produce an antidote ribosome part alongside the antibiotic. When inserted into a normal ribosome, it can render immunity against the antibiotic MPI.
More information regarding the findings can be seen via the Journal of Bacteriology.
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First Posted: Nov 28, 2014 12:32 PM EST
Could eating Thanksgiving turkey actually help cure an infection? Researchers at Brigham Young University (BYU) seem to think so. They found that good bacterium, known as strain 115, can produce a life-saving antibiotic that's commonly found in turkeys.
Though the bacterium was believed to be lost until just recently, research shows that the antibiotic known as MPI can be used to target several infections including throat, gastrointestinal disease, staph, strep and a host of bacterial infections.
During the study, researchers worked to isolate the bacterium, with research that largely resulted in the treatment of diseases for turkeys.
"Our research group is certainly thankful for turkeys. The good bacteria we're studying has been keeping turkey farms healthy for years and it has the potential to keep humans healthy as well," ," said BYU microbiologist Joel Griffitts who is part of the research team, in a news release.
Researchers said they discovered the strain in turkeys, which was unlike what they had seen in their current research. Furthermore, they believe the 115 strain had been available for nearly three decades.
"Sometimes bacteria retire with the people who discover them. We simply rediscovered it and now we are capitalizing on it once again," Griffitts concluded.
Interestingly, the bacterium is not killed by the antibiotic it produces. Researchers discovered that DNA inside the strain helps to produce an antidote ribosome part alongside the antibiotic. When inserted into a normal ribosome, it can render immunity against the antibiotic MPI.
More information regarding the findings can be seen via the Journal of Bacteriology.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone