Thread: Algeferin, the next natural wonder drug

Science News / Sponge’s Secret Weapon Restores Antibiotics’ Power

It's a short article, but in a nutshell, scientists have discovered that sea sponges create this stuff called algeferin that successfully wipes out whooping cough, ear infections, and food poisoning. It also resensitizes bacteria to antibiotics. Stem cells might be a while off, but this stuff could be out fairly quick. If it's as promising as it seems to be, I'll be first in line once it reaches the public.

One of the comments to the article makes a good point - should a strain of bacteria survive the algeferin/ anti-biotic exposure we then have a new super-bug.

Scott

Originally Posted by honedright

should a strain of bacteria survive the algeferin/ anti-biotic exposure we then have a new super-bug.

I've never been comfortable with that theory. Surely a bacteria has to have some resistance to antibiotics in the first place in order to survive and become a "super-bug."

Isn't it more likely that the rise of antibiotic resistant strains just down to the fact we are killing off the strains that aren't resistant?

Just being Devil's advocate here really.

But possibly algefarin will make that step from normal bug to superbug less likely anyways.

Originally Posted by honedright

One of the comments to the article makes a good point - should a strain of bacteria survive the algeferin/ anti-biotic exposure we then have a new super-bug.

Scott

In that case, it's already a superbug. Exposing a bug to something it's already resistant to won't change that fact.

Originally Posted by Rajagra

I've never been comfortable with that theory. Surely a bacteria has to have some resistance to antibiotics in the first place in order to survive and become a "super-bug."

Isn't it more likely that the rise of antibiotic resistant strains just down to the fact we are killing off the strains that aren't resistant?

Just being Devil's advocate here really.

But possibly algefarin will make that step from normal bug to superbug less likely anyways.

Yes, some opportunist strains will thrive in the absence of competition. There may be resistant strains present in very small numbers that are kept in check by dominant strains that are susceptible to the algeferin. Once the dominant strains are killed off, the algeferin resistant strains will be free to take over. Also, some weakened, but not killed bacteria, will give rise to more resistant strains passing on whatever characteristic that prevented the anti-biotic from killing it.

Bacteria can have inherent, non-expressed genetic predispositions for resistance to different agents. The resistant characteristic may not be expressed or realized until after exposure to a specific agent.

Therefore, there may not now exist a human pathogen that is resistant to an algeferin/ anti-bacterial combo. Once exposed, some bacteria may adapt and pass this new expression of resistance to it's "offspring."

Of course non of this has happened yet. At least not in the case of this new algeferin agent. It has in many other cases though.

Scott

Thanks for the education! In that case, could we not figure out which bacteria was keeping down the latent "super bug" and make something from it? Sort of introduce it to wipe out the latent bacteria, then zap the reintroduced bacteria with algeferin (or whatever is made from it)?

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

Thanks for the education! In that case, could we not figure out which bacteria was keeping down the latent "super bug" and make something from it? Sort of introduce it to wipe out the latent bacteria, then zap the reintroduced bacteria with algeferin (or whatever is made from it)?

Well it depends. Maybe someone is looking in to that. (Actually this is just what is going on in your large intestine. The "good" bacterial are keeping the "bad" bacteria in check. Sometimes treatment with anti-biotics will kill off too many of the "good" guys and the "bad" guys take over making you sick. Sometimes very sick. The cure often involves replacing the good guys to fight off the bad).

But my post introduced one hypothetical scenario, one of many possible depending on the organism.

Problem with bacteria is they can be unpredictable and they multiply so fast. If resistance is due to a genetic mutation, for instance, how do you prepare for that?

Some of our anti-biotics come from bacteria and other micro-organisms (think penicillin). They are the substances micro's use to fight off other micro's (just micro chemical war-fare). Problems occur when we use the same stuff to target the same micro's over and over again. And then the bacteria adapt. And we have to find other substances. And then the bacteria adapt again. And so on, and so on....


Scott

So, what will happen when they remove all of the sponges from the bottom of the ocean, to create wonder drugs?



That's right, without all those sponges to soak up the water, sea levels will rise and humanity will be wiped out in a giant tsunami!

Originally Posted by Seraphim

So, what will happen when they remove all of the sponges from the bottom of the ocean, to create wonder drugs?



That's right, without all those sponges to soak up the water, sea levels will rise and humanity will be wiped out in a giant tsunami!

Well, at least we wouldn't have to worry about any "super-bug", if you want a bright side to that scenario!