Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA
scientificamerican.com
Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA
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Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA
#2First there was stool transplants. Now, we can have snot transplants.
Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA
#3First there was stool transplants. Now, we can have snot transplants.
Whatever works, right?
Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA
#4Awesome research. But...
> The researchers then checked snot from hospitalized patients. Of 187 samples, all but one were colonized by either S. aureus or S. lugdunensis
> S. lugdunensis, was killing S. aureus. Its weapon of choice? A small compound dubbed lugdunin
> The German researchers who performed the study have filed a patent for lugdunin
Are we really allowing people to patent naturally occurring biological compounds these days? Shouldn't the patent be for specific treatments derived from their findings on lugdunin, not the compound itself?
Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA
#5Wont using this be long term harmful to our nasal health, as bacteria acquire immunity?
Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA
#6> The researchers then checked snot from hospitalized patients. Of 187 samples, all but one were colonized by either S. aureus or S. lugdunensis, but not both. The researchers think where one species grows, the other can’t.
How does S. aureus prevent S. lugdunesis from invading?
Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA
#7Awesome research. But... > The researchers then checked snot from hospitalized patients. Of 187 samples, all but one were colonized by either S. aureus or S. lugdunensis > S. lugdunensis, was killing S. aureus. Its weapon of choice? A small compound dubbed lugdunin > The German researchers who performed the study have filed a patent for lugdunin Are we really allowing people to patent naturally occurring biological c…
You have to choose a system. If we don't want naturally-occurring compounds patented, but we want them researched for potential drug use, we need more public funding. Otherwise, we have to offer researchers and drug manufacturers an incentive to take risks with exploring these compounds.
Barring lugdunin from being patented while providing no public funding would incentivise this group to withhold publication until they thought they'd found every commercially-reasonably derivation.
Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA
#8Awesome research. But... > The researchers then checked snot from hospitalized patients. Of 187 samples, all but one were colonized by either S. aureus or S. lugdunensis > S. lugdunensis, was killing S. aureus. Its weapon of choice? A small compound dubbed lugdunin > The German researchers who performed the study have filed a patent for lugdunin Are we really allowing people to patent naturally occurring biological c…
Most antibiotics are naturally occurring biological compounds (besides things like sulfonamides). Given how little upside there tends to be for developing new antibiotics vs. the public good that new ones can bring for treating resistant bugs, this is one of the very few areas where I'm firmly in favor of allowing patent protection.
Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA
#9Awesome research. But... > The researchers then checked snot from hospitalized patients. Of 187 samples, all but one were colonized by either S. aureus or S. lugdunensis > S. lugdunensis, was killing S. aureus. Its weapon of choice? A small compound dubbed lugdunin > The German researchers who performed the study have filed a patent for lugdunin Are we really allowing people to patent naturally occurring biological c…
You have to choose a system. If we don't want naturally-occurring compounds patented, but we want them researched for potential drug use, we need more public funding. Otherwise, we have to offer researchers and drug manufacturers an incentive to take risks with exploring these compounds. Barring lugdunin from being patented while providing no public funding would incentivise this group to withhold publication until t…
At least if they'd kept their findings secret, researchers could independently be researching the same thing.
Now independent researchers won't want to touch lugdunin because they'll need to license the patent, however they won't know whether licensing the patent is worthwhile until they do their research. This will prevent further research, not encourage it.
Re: Nasal Bacteria Pump Out a Potential New Antibiotic That Kills MRSA
#10Awesome research. But... > The researchers then checked snot from hospitalized patients. Of 187 samples, all but one were colonized by either S. aureus or S. lugdunensis > S. lugdunensis, was killing S. aureus. Its weapon of choice? A small compound dubbed lugdunin > The German researchers who performed the study have filed a patent for lugdunin Are we really allowing people to patent naturally occurring biological c…
Composition of matter patents got a lot harder for naturally isolated compounds circa 2014. We'll see if it gets granted.
Having said that, a patent for general anti-biotic+matter is probably valid and it's unlikely that this compound will be used for much else.