BLOG: Worm Guts May Hold a New Weapon against Antibiotic-Resistant Germs

Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019 Worm Guts May Hold a New Weapon against Antibiotic-Resistant Germs A gruesome fate looms for any caterpillar that gets infected with a certain kind of tiny parasitic roundworm. Commensal Photorhabdus bacteria that live in the worm's gut release a flood of toxins, enzymes, and antibiotics that blunt the caterpillar's immune response and turn its tissues into a worm-nourishing soup. What's bad for a caterpillar, though, may be a boon for people thanks to a recent discovery by NIAID-supported scientist Kim Lewis, Ph.D. Dr. Lewis and his colleagues at Northeastern University search for new compounds from natural sources to treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases  |  National Institutes of Health Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact Subscriber Help. This service is provided to you at no charge by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). This email was sent to myhcistech.healthnews360@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 5601 Fishers Lane · Bethesda, MD 20892 · 1-866-284-4107