Stalking Cave Bacteria to Make Secret Weapons Against Superbugs
Life-Saving Anitbiotics Could Be Hidden in Caves
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When you think of explorers scuttling through caves in hot pursuit of ancient treasure, it's probably Indiana Jones or Lara Croft dodging blow darts and leaping over booby traps. It's probably not Dr. Naowarat Cheeptham. But the ancient treasures she's after are even more valuable: bacteria that could save your life.
One of the great moments in medical history was the discovery of penicillin nearly 90 years ago. Alexander Fleming’s famous serendipity opened the era of antibiotics, preventing millions of deaths. Unfortunately, our use of antibiotics has contributed to the rise of fearsome new strains—“superbugs”—that are resistant to many treatments.