Antimicrobial resistance is listed among the top 10 biggest threats to humanity by the World Health Organization. And the most prevalent is drug-resistant bacteria.
But help might be on the way from the dromedary camel.
A new study published in Frontiers in Immunology discovered three teeny infection-fighting molecules called peptides in camel blood.
These peptides can be considered microscopic guards. Two of the three packed a lethal punch against dangerous bacteria that include MRSA and resistant strains of klebsiella.
They are successful by effectively punching holes in bacteria resulting in cell leakage and ultimate collapse.
What’s the catch? Before medical use, further tweaks are required as one of the peptides can damage human red blood cells at increased doses.
The findings, however, suggest that camels that are naturally built to survive harsh desert climates may provide high-powered tools that could be a catalyst for future antibiotics.
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