Tiny Quantum Dots May Spell Doom For Deadly Superbug Infections

Discussion in 'Science' started by Space_Time, Jan 20, 2016.

  1. Space_Time

    Space_Time Well-Known Member

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    Can we finally get rid of superbugs? Or will the bugs just develop a resistance to the quantum dots? Will we elimite any more diseases like smallpox?

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry...perbug-infections_us_569eb601e4b00f3e98634e5b

    Tiny Quantum Dots May Spell Doom For Deadly Superbug Infections
    Scientists say the light-activated nanoparticles wipe out infectious bacteria without harming healthy cells
    01/20/2016 02:49 pm ET
    David Freeman
    Senior Science Editor, The Huffington Post

    ILEXX VIA GETTY IMAGES
    Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections in humans.
    Does nanotechnology hold the key to stopping antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the deadly infections they cause?

    Scientists in Colorado think it just might. They've developed light-activated nanoparticles -- each roughly 20,000 times smaller than the thickness of a single human hair -- and shown in lab tests that these "quantum dots" are more than 90 percent effective at wiping out antibiotic-resistant germs like Salmonella, E. coli and Staphylococcus.

    "In our study, we tailored these quantum dots so they can selectively kill these 'superbugs' without affecting other host mammalian cells (or human cells)," Dr. Prashant Nagpal, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder and a leader of the research, told The Huffington Post in an email. "This means, after more careful clinical trials, we can simply administer these dots to patients with infections and it can cure the infection without potential effects (or side effects) for healthy host cells."

    If Nagpal is right, that would be a very big deal.
     
  2. Deckel

    Deckel Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Some infections will mutate faster than you can program these nano-dots, and some of these infections make room for a whole host of other bacteria to join in. It may help in some cases, but MRSA is a nasty, nasty situation in some cases like post-surgery.
     
  3. robot

    robot Active Member

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    I just hope they are right. It would not be pleasant to live in the post antibiotic era.
     
  4. Jonsa

    Jonsa Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    and the beat goes on.

    yet another weapon in the arsenal.
     
  5. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

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    Superbug new to the U.S. found...
    :omg:
    Mutant Superbug Has Been Discovered In The U.S.
    05/27/2016 - The infection resists the treatment of last resort, meaning "the medicine cabinet is empty for some patients," the CDC director said.
    See also:

    'Nightmare Bacteria' Superbug Found for First Time in U.S
    May 27 2016 - A drug-resistant "superbug" that doctors have been dreading has shown up in the U.S. for the first time, researchers reported Thursday.
     
  6. Alien Traveler

    Alien Traveler New Member

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    These "news" are from January. No new findings in four months. OK, we'll wait for confirmation a bit more.
     
  7. egotripp

    egotripp Banned

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    I blame OBAMA and the Vast Left Wing Conspiracy for doing this to the U.S., in order to kill off "Da Wite Mens". ;-)
     
  8. Alien Traveler

    Alien Traveler New Member

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    Learning to troll? Can you find some other forum, something special for trolls?
     
  9. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

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    Mutation is the name of the game...
    :confusion:
    How 'Superbugs' Become Super
    May 27, 2016 - News of antibiotic-resistant 'superbug' found in US makes waves, but how did we get here? How do bacteria develop resistance to entire arsenals of antibiotics?
    See also:

    First Drug-resistant Bacteria Case in US Is Not First in World
    May 27, 2016 - Untreatable bacterial infections often are caused by too-frequent use of antibiotics; one experts says prescribing practices should be reviewed
     
  10. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

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    U.S. bows to pharma pressure to help with superbugs...
    :wink:
    US to establish lab network for combating 'superbugs'
    May 31, 2016 | Washington (AFP) - US authorities said they are establishing a network of labs that can respond quickly to antibiotic-resistant "superbugs," following America's first human case of a dangerous strain of E. coli.
     
  11. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

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    Superbugs Threaten Global Physical & Financial Health...
    :omg:
    Report: Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria Threaten Global Physical & Financial Health
    20 Sept.`16 - The growing number of "superbug" infections could push 28 million people into extreme poverty, hurt the economy as badly at the 2008 financial crisis, make health care costs soar, damage livestock production and cost millions of human lives by 2050 unless there is prompt, effective and sustained action.
     
  12. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

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    Mebbe Hillary been coughin' `cause she got a superbug...
    :omg:
    Global pledge to stamp out drug-resistant infections
    Tue, 20 Sep 2016 - The 193 countries of the United Nations are to sign a landmark declaration to rid the world of drug-resistant infections or superbugs.
     
  13. Junkieturtle

    Junkieturtle Well-Known Member Donor

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    I sure hope medical science has some options on the horizon now that we've abused antibiotics to the point of them becoming ineffective.
     
  14. Merwen

    Merwen Well-Known Member

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    We used to quarantine people carrying noncurable infections. It could still save a lot of lives.
     
  15. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

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    Granny says, "Dat's right - it's dat end time plague - we all gonna die...
    :grandma:
    Superbug infections found in China
    Sun, Jan 29, 2017 - LAST RESORT: About 1 percent of a study of 17,000 samples from people infected with common bacteria were found to be resistant to colistin, the last option in antibiotics
     
  16. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

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    'Superbugs' Threatening Global Malaria Control...
    :omg:
    Study: 'Superbugs' Threatening Global Malaria Control
    February 01, 2017 | Malaria-resistant "superbugs" are emerging in Southeast Asia, threatening worldwide control efforts, according to the authors of a new study.
    See also:

    British Scientists: Drug-resistant Malaria Cases ‘A Warning For Africa’
    February 01, 2017 — Four British citizens who caught malaria while travelling in Africa have shown apparent resistance to the main drug used to treat the disease, according to researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Scientists say the discovery should act as a warning for Africa, where the drug has played a key role in sharply reducing mortality rates from malaria.
     

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