Irish Soil Can Kill MRSA

Scientists analyzed the fabled soil of Northern Ireland and found it contains a new string of bacteria that can kill 4 of 6 top antibiotic resistant "superbugs".

The soil of Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, where Druids lived thousands of years ago, has long been the stuff of folklore and legends for its reputed healing properties. Traditionally, a small amount of soil was wrapped up in cotton cloth and used to heal many ailments, including toothaches, throat and neck infections.

Now scientists from the Swansea University Medical School found the soil contains a newly discovered bacteria called Streptomyces sp. myrophorea, which has inhibited the growth of four of the top six multi-resistant pathogens identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being responsible for healthcare-associated infections: Vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumonia, and Carbenepenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumanii.

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes the rise of antibiotic resistant superbugs as “one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today”, and estimates they could result in over one million European deaths by 2050.

Our discovery is an important step forward in the fight against antibiotic resistance. Our results show that folklore and traditional medicines are worth investigating in the search for new antibiotics. Scientists, historians and archaeologists can all have something to contribute to this task. It seems that part of the answer to this very modern problem might lie in the wisdom of the past. ~ Professor Paul Dyson of Swansea University Medical School

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