Just as much as our knowledge in medicine evolves in order to find new ways to treat various diseases and target specific disease-causing organisms, so do bacteria and viruses.
The rate at which these pathogens evolve and produce strains which are resistant to treatments is staggering. So scientists are always on the look out for new drugs that could reduce their potency, if not completely eliminate them.
Scientists from the University of Sheffield and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory say they have discovered a new compound which has the potential to kill gram-negative bacteria and other antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
Doctors have not had a new treatment for gram-negative bacteria in the last 50 years, and no potential drugs have entered clinical trials since 2010.
The new drug compound has a range of exciting opportunities. As Professor Jim Thomas explains: "As the compound is luminescent it glows when exposed to light. This means the uptake and effect on bacteria can be followed by the advanced microscope techniques available at RAL.
(Image credit: University of Sheffield)
And thanks to Buttswana (botswana) for lifting the ban on hunting elephants - what's that the Ebola virus has mutated once again and reestablished its stronghold in Africa? Geez whatcha gonna do...