What does ascomycetous fungi, penicillium, and cockroaches have in common

To many of us, they are disgusting, unsanitary, revolting, a health hazard for the conscious ones, an organism to be trampled on, sprayed to, burnt and discarded. They are one of the few animals people believe they could do without! However to aspiring and young enthusiastic microbiologist’s like me, they are an amazing creation that for many centuaries have baffled mankind and now they are resourceful to us. COCKROACHES! Yep, my friends. Cockroach are the next best thing since penicillin and I will shortly tell you why. Take a roach and a few microbiologists and you got yourself a new antibiotic, one which is very dangerous, bactericidal to be exact to MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and E coli, having the capability to kill 90% of these microorganism’s without any side effects on human cells. Scientist’s from the University of Nottingham have conducted research on this antibiotic found in the brain and nervous system of cockroaches including locusts.

This discovery is significantly important as MRSA has been a really hectic bug for doctors and nurses to control. Its popular for being responsible for nosocomial infections - these are infections arising from hospital settings through surgical wound infection or from host to host through airborne, droplet and contact. Furthermore S. aureus is resistant to the usual penicillin you get from the Dr or even chloramphenicol so such a breakthrough is seen as being the first step to reducing the number of these type of clinical infections however such a discovery I believe may have its disadvantage as it will add to the slowly increasing antibiotic resistant cases. Such infections (nosocomial) are responsible for the death of 15 000 patients per year according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

So next time you ever see a roach and wanna kill it….think again. It just might help you get over a sticky situation

Source: CDC, SmartPlanet