A RESEARCH group in Cork has enlisted a new ally in the fight against hospital superbugs – designer bacteria. They are building tougher bacteria as a way to tackle the dangerous Clostridium difficile. It is germ warfare out there as researchers do battle against the new emerging superbugs, says University College Cork’s Dr Roy Sleator. Many have developed resistance to our best antibiotics leaving doctors without weapons that can stop C difficile and the infamous MRSA. He and colleagues at UCC’s Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC) are taking an alternative approach, adding extra genes that will give their designer bacteria the edge over C difficile . Full details here.
