BACTERIA FROM BEES POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO ANTIBIOTICS
Raw honey has been
used against infections for millennia, before honey -- as we now know it -- was
manufactured and sold in stores. So what is the key to its' antimicrobial
properties? Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have identified a unique
group of 13 lactic acid bacteria found in fresh honey, from the honey stomach
of bees. The bacteria produce a myriad of active antimicrobial compounds.
These lactic acid
bacteria have now been tested on severe human wound pathogens such as
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),Pseudomonas
aeruginosa and vancomycin-resistantEnterococcus (VRE),
among others. When the lactic acid bacteria were applied to the pathogens in
the laboratory, it counteracted all of them.
While the effect on
human bacteria has only been tested in a lab environment thus far, the lactic
acid bacteria has been applied directly to horses with persistent wounds. The
LAB was mixed with honey and applied to ten horses; where the owners had tried
several other methods to no avail. All of the horses' wounds were healed by the
mixture.
The researchers
believe the secret to the strong results lie in the broad spectrum of active substances
involved.
"Antibiotics are
mostly one active substance, effective against only a narrow spectrum of
bacteria. When used alive, these 13 lactic acid bacteria produce the right kind
of antimicrobial compounds as needed, depending on the threat. It seems to have
worked well for millions of years of protecting bees' health and honey against
other harmful microorganisms. However, since store-bought honey doesn't contain
the living lactic acid bacteria, many of its unique properties have been lost
in recent times," explains Tobias Olofsson.
The next step is
further studies to investigate wider clinical use against topical human
infections as well as on animals.
The findings have
implications for developing countries, where fresh honey is easily available,
but also for Western countries where antibiotic resistance is seriously
increasing.
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