[Raw Food Health Watch] Superbugs like E. coli, in the past have been called “antibiotic-resistant,” but that may no longer be an appropriate adjective.
Reported on January 4th, 2013 in Nature Biotechnology, science has determined how to make these bugs weaker by interfering with their metabolism (specifically what is called “reactive oxygen species” or ROS production) when faced with existing antibiotics.
Leveraging biotechnology and sophisticated computer modeling, the teams at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Boston University used the “kick ‘em when they’re down” approach for overtaking these so called “superbugs.”
Having few antibiotics coming into existence that could potentially do the job, “we are finding new ways to harness and exploit certain aspects of bacterial physiology,” explains Jim Collins, Ph.D. Collins the William F. Warren Distinguished Professor at Boston University, where he leads the Center for BioDynamics, and is also senior author and Wyss Core Faculty member.
A few years ago Collins’ team revealed what antibiotics do, which is ramp up ROS production, thereby damaging or killing the bacterial cell. ROS includes molecules (which include superoxide and hydrogen peroxide) that are natural byproducts of regular metabolic activity, and when too much is present, that is when cell damage and death can occur. The decided to leverage this fact.
Collins explained that one challenge was determining “if increasing the ROS production by the cell itself would render it more susceptible to death by oxidative, ergo, antibiotic attack,” and they found that antibiotics and biocides were even more lethal to cells, once bacterial metabolism was interfered with.
Misuse of antibiotics and bacterial resistance
Antibiotics can be lifesavers, but misuse has increased the number of drug-resistant germs.
Because of the ability for infectious organisms to quickly adapt, and therefore become more resistant to antibiotics, using antibiotics wisely, or in some cases, not at all, is important for preventing their spread.
One main contribution to antibiotic resistance, the killing of good bacteria, and the blatant misuse of antibiotics, is taking the drugs for viral infections, as they are meant for bacterial infections. Then why do doctors prescribe them? To shut patients up and give them a placebo affect? To line their pockets by pushing out more drugs? Lack of knowledge? Other reasons? Who knows?
Additionally, not taking antibiotics for the full course against bacteria, is what “strengthens” the bacteria, allowing it to mutate and “overpower” the drug, then spread to other people.
One approach is to learn what falls under the bacterial infection category and what falls under the viral infection category, then challenge your doctor when he attempts to prescribe antibiotics for viral infections. Here is a chart pulled from Mayo Clinic.
Bacterial infections – bladder infections, many wound and skin infections (such as staph infections), severe sinus infections that last longer than 2 weeks, some ear infections, strep throat
Viral infections – bronchitis, colds, flu (influenza), most coughs, most ear infections, most sore throats, stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis)
Maybe there is something to contributing to the beneficial gut flora (the good bacteria) that will overcome any of the bad bacteria, eliminating the need for the drug altogether?
Increase probiotics naturally with raw foods
Water kefir – Fermented water beverage made from water kefir grains that are fed sugar and soaked for several days.
Sauerkraut or other fermented veggies – Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage that creates a beneficial bacteria that when consumed can implant into the gut. Other veggies can be fermented or “pickled” in the same or similar manner.
Ani Phyo’s Raw Food Essentials: Water Kefir
Chaga mushroom immunity builder
But rather than dealing with the bacteria when it is present, should we not be contributing to our immunity daily to prevent these “superbugs” from wreaking havoc in our systems at all?
There is evidence that the majority of weak or auto-immune disorders are as a result of missing vital nutrients, called glyconutrients. When the nutrients are properly “attached” to white blood cells they are said to “smarten” them up and as a result, build immunity.
The chaga mushroom and it’s healing potential for auto-immune
Sources for this article include:
[Science Daily] Scientists Notch a Win in War Against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
[Mayo Clinic] Antibiotics: Misuse puts you and others at risk
Image source for this article:
[How Stuff Works] MRSA 101