We've all used the antibacteria handwashes before. But are they doing more harm than good? They do kill the bad bateria that makes you sick, but antibacterial cleaners and soaps are often use harsh chemicals to kill everything they come into contact with or leach out into the environment, including the nutrients that we do want ot keep.
Over that past few years, antibacterial cleansers are used so much that many bacterias have become immune to it. These antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" are becoming an increasing have concern to public health.
Scientists now are working on a new crop of antimicrobial which are "microscopic weapons that prevent or defeat bugs" in order to strengthen the effects and target specific types of bacteria, which in turn also reduces harmful agents leaking into our environment.
Bacteria itself naturally uses enzymes to kill other bacteria. The researchers chose the enzyme lysostaphin, Lysostaphin breaks down one piece of the bacteria's cell wall, and like a pin popping a balloon, causes the cell to "deflate." REcent research specifically targetted a widespread superbug known as "methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA—on contact using tiny tubes coated with proteins to destroy the bugs by deflating them like balloons."
If you look into such areas, much research is being focused on new methods of germ killing and such.
In many instances, people think that its useless to reseach new mothods of killing bacteria since they will keep natural selection and some will always be resistant to new antibacterial products. I personally would have to disagree with those who think its useless. I understand what they mean by there will never a competely germ free (the bad germs) environment, but just as germs contintue to grow, we can continue to create new methods of killing them.
Its natural selection vs natural selection, and we have advanced technology on our side.
1 comment:
While I agree that there is a value to researching new anti-bacterial drugs in order to remain one step ahead of the bacterial evolution, I don't think that anti-bacterial products such as Purell and the like are necessary. If we look back in history, the majority of the time humans spent on this planet was spent without the assistance of anti-bacterial wipes, sprays, and lotions. Even our generation, as small children, played with bugs and got covered in dirt. Clearly, we haven't died as a result. It is my opinion that we should stop using anti-bacterial products in such quantities and return to the good old (dirty) days.
Post a Comment