Scientists
have uncovered a novel antibiotic-free approach that could help prevent and
treat one of the most widespread bacterial pathogens, using nanocapsules made
of natural ingredients.
Helicobacter
pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterial pathogen carried by 4.4 billion people
worldwide, with the highest prevalence in Africa, Latin America and the
Caribbean.
Although
the majority of infections show no symptoms, if left untreated the pathogen can
cause chronic inflammation of the stomach lining, ulcers and is associated with
an increased risk of gastric cancer.
In 2017, the World
Health Organisation included H. pylori on its list of antibiotic-resistant
"priority pathogens" -- a catalog of bacteria that pose the
greatest threat to human health and that urgently need new treatments.
Current
treatments involve multi-target therapy with a combination of antibiotics, but
this has promoted the emergence of resistant strains.
Now,
UK and German scientists have uncovered a novel antibiotic-free approach using
only food- and pharmaceutical-grade ingredients, which are non-toxic and safe
for consumption, to be used as a supplement to complement antibiotic current
therapies.
The
formulation is delivered through billions of bundled together nanocapsules,
which are smaller than a human blood cell, and prevents the bacteria from
attaching to and infecting the stomach cells.
The
team, which includes researchers from the universities of Leeds, Münster and
Erlangen, hope the nanocapsules could be used as a preventative measure, as
well as helping eradicate H. pylori and reduce antibiotic resistant strains.
See:
Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology
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