WorldTop StoryTop StoryLatest News
Australian Stingless Bees' Honey Shows Promise Against Antibiotic Resistance
Sentiment: PositiveHigh Priority
What Happened?
Researchers from the University of Sydney found that honey from Australia's native stingless bees effectively stopped the growth of various bacteria, including hard-to-treat hospital pathogens. This discovery may help address the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance.
Key points
- The study tested honey and propolis from Tetragonula carbonaria, a native Australian stingless bee.
- Honey stopped the growth of all tested bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
- The honey's effectiveness is comparable to medical-grade Manuka and Jarrah honeys.
- The honey also showed activity against fungi causing common infections like ringworm.
- Propolis was found to be potent but selective against certain pathogens.
Key insights
- The findings could encourage further research into native Australian bee products for medicinal use.
- If the antimicrobial compounds in the honey are identified, they may lead to new drug development.
- The selective nature of propolis could provide insights into targeted antimicrobial therapies.
Why it matters
This research could lead to new treatments for infections resistant to current antibiotics.
Tags
Entities
University of Sydney· OrganizationPseudomonas aeruginosa· BacteriaKlebsiella pneumoniae· BacteriaPLOS One· Journal
Source
Times of India
