Spanish researchers have identified five types of bacteria, naturally found in the intestine of mice, that can stop the invasion of other disease-causing bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.
In the study, at the Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of Valencia Region (FISABIO), these natural bacteria, which form part of the gut microbiome in humans and mice, could ‘starve’ harmful bacteria of nutrients to prevent their growth – and therefore protect the mice from infection.
The researchers tested some of the most common resistant bacterial species that can lead to deaths in people, making it a ‘relevant discovery,’ said Dr Carles Úbeda at FISABIO, that could lead to new ways to treat patients.
Antibiotic resistance, where infections become difficult to treat because bacteria develop resistance against them, is one of the biggest health threats worldwide.
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