Scientists have created the first “living medicine” to treat bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics.
Researchers created another bacteria but genetically modified it so that it cannot cause disease.
Instead it attacks harmful bacteria by targeting their “biofilms”, which prevent antibiotics or the human immune system from being able to attack the bacteria embedded within.
The revolutionary treatment could be used on patients to kill hospital superbugs such as MRSA within two years.
Researchers say it could be an important first step in the development of treatments for infections on medical implants such as catheters, pacemakers and prosthetic joints.
England’s previous chief medical officer Sally Davies warned “the world is facing an antibiotic apocalypse” if the drugs were not stopped being overused and new versions developed.
Today patients undergoing routine treatments for cancer as well as organ transplants and hip and knee replacements take antibiotics to prevent infection.
Experts warn that if we do not develop new antibiotics now in 10 to 15 years such routine operations could be fatal.
Only two new classes of antibiotics have been introduced in the last 40 years.
The new medicine that helps eradicate resistant bacteria could be an important tool in our armoury.
Study author Prof Luis Serrano, of the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona, said: “Bacteria are ideal vehicles for ‘living medicine’ because they can carry any given therapeutic protein to treat the source of a disease.
“One of the great benefits of the technology is that, once they reach their destination, bacterial vectors offer continuous and localised production of the therapeutic molecule.
“Like any vehicle, our bacteria can be modified with different payloads that target different diseases, with potentially more applications in the future.”
The EU funded research findings are published in the journal Molecular Systems Biology.