Researchers have found a common vitamin that could be useful in combating 'superbugs', antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus infections. Previously, the health experts had expressed their worry, saying Superbug as a threat to public health.
Researchers have observed that high doses of the nicotinamide form of vitamin B3 stimulated a specific gene (CEBPE) that in turn increases the white blood cells' ability to fight staphylococcus infections that include methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus or MRSA.
Staph infections lead to serious, sometimes life-threatening, illness. Health officials are of the opinion that unselective use of antibiotics has resulted in the increase in the resistant germs, The Journal of Clinical Investigation writes.
In lab tests with mice and human blood, Cedars-Sinai Maxine Dunitz Children's Health Centre scientists observed that vitamin B3 increased by up to 1,000-fold the ability of the immune system to kill staph bacteria.
"It's critical that we find novel antimicrobial approaches to treat infection and not rely so heavily on antibiotics," George Liu, paediatric infectious disease physician at Cedars-Sinai's Children's Health Centre and study co-senior has been quoted saying in a Cedars-Sinai statement.
"That's why this discovery is so exciting. Our research indicates this common vitamin is potentially effective in fighting off and protecting against one of today's most important public health threats," Liu added.
Not limited to the finding related to the Vitamin B3, the study further reveals that similar targeting of the CEBPE gene with other compounds may offer a new immune-boosting strategy to combat bacterial infections.
--with inputs from IANS
|
|
Comments:
