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Northern Ireland scientists find a new weapon in MRSA war
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
A new weapon that could help wipe out the deadly MRSA virus has been developed by researchers from Northern Ireland.
Experts from Queen’s University have discovered new agents that can kill colonies of MRSA and other antiboitic resistant hospital-acquired |infections.
The antimicrobial agents also prevent any growth of the potentially lethal bacteria.
The breakthrough was made by a team of eight researchers from the Queen's University Ionic Liquid Laboratories (QUILL) Research Centre led by Brendan Gilmore, a lecturer in Pharmaceutics, and assistant director of QUILL Dr Martyn Earle. The discovery has been published in the |scientific journal, Green Chemistry.
Dr Earle said: “We have shown that, when pitted against the ionic liquids we developed and tested, biofilms offer little or no protection to MRSA, or to seven other infectious microorganisms.
“Our goal is to design ionic liquids with the lowest possible toxicity to humans while wiping out colonies of bacteria that cause hospital acquired infections.”
Many types of bacteria, such as MRSA, exist in colonies that stick to the surfaces of materials. The colonies often form coatings, known as biofilms, which protect them from antiseptics, disinfectant, and |antibiotics.
Ionic liquids, just like the table salt sprinkled on food are salts. They consist entirely of ions — electrically-charged atoms or groups of atoms. Unlike table salt, however, which has to be heated to over 800 degrees celsius to become a liquid, the ionic |liquid antibiofilm agents remain |liquid at the ambient temperatures found in hospitals.
One of the attractions of ionic liquids is the opportunity to tailor their physical, chemical, and biological properties by building specific features into the chemical structures of the positively-charged ions (the cations), and/or the negatively-charged ions (the anions).
Microbial biofilms are not only problematic in hospitals, but can also grow inside water pipes and cause pipe blockages in industrial processes.
Mr Gilmore added: “Ionic liquid based antibiofilm agents could potentially be used for a multitude of medical and industrial applications. For example, they could be used to improve infection control and reduce patient morbidity in hospitals and therefore lighten the financial burden to healthcare providers. They could also be harnessed to improve industrial productivity by reducing biofouling and microbial-induced corrosion of processing systems.”
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I find it heartening to read out of the strides being made in the field of the control and combating of MRSA. Having lost a sister to that malaise in 2008, I am naturally interested in whatever can be done to restrain or totally eliminate it.
It makes me proud as one born in Northern Ireland to see the dedication and devotion to finding a cure on the part of those have been most affected by it, namely the workers, who cared for those afflicted by this disease. I am sure that together those who work for a solution to this worldwide problem will be grateful for the efforts you are making in this regard. I shall be prayerfully watching your efforts and beseeching the one who made us all to give you wisdom and strength to accomplish this worthwhile task.
listen to your good wishes for your future endeavors,
I remain, your sincerely,
+Aaron R. Orr
Posted by The M. Rev'd Aaron R. Orr | 14.04.09, 18:00 GMT
MRSA is not a virus. This is a mistake in the article.
Microcyn according to the Oculusis web site is essentially dilute bleach (hypochlorite), and chlorite (weedkiller and a component of homemade explosives) which kills bacteria by oxidising them.
Ionic liquids work by physically disrupting bacterial membranes. They are pH neutral, non- oxidising and do not cause damaging chemical reactions. Ionic liquids are also effective against bacterial biofilms.
Bleach will also attack biofilms, but it needs to be fairly concentrated and will kill healthy tissue.
Posted by Martyn Earle | 26.03.09, 19:33 GMT
Unfortunately, the reporter has made an error here - we the authors did not refer to MRSA as a virus, but as a bacterium. The full article is available online at Green Chemistry, Advance Articles
Posted by Brendan Gilmore | 26.03.09, 17:28 GMT
MRSA is a bacteria, NOT a virus. If you expect for your article to be taken seriously, please do a little research first, and proofreading last.
Posted by Jeff | 26.03.09, 01:04 GMT
There is a new weapon in the fight against MRSA that is now FDA-cleared and commercially available in the United States. The Microcyn® Technology (www.oculusis.com/us/technology) is a safe-as-saline anti-infective that quickly eradicates a broad range of pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria (including MRSA and VRE), viruses, fungi and spores. Dual-action in nature, in addition to killing the infection, the Microcyn also accelerates the wound-healing process by reducing inflammation in the wound and increasing nutrient-rich blood and oxygen flow to the wound bed. Twenty-five clinical studies have demonstrated Microcyn to be both safe and effective in killing pathogens.
Posted by Dr M Sullivan | 25.03.09, 19:01 GMT
MRSA is a bacterium, not a virus.
Posted by Lois Wakeman | 25.03.09, 09:05 GMT