Antibiotic resistance is a serious issue affecting worldwide Medical Health
today. Bacterial illnesses like pneumonia, diarrhea and meningitis are
responsible for millions of deaths and the reappearance of older pathogens like
tuberculosis concern medical professionals who are finding infections more and
more resistant to traditional forms of antibiotics.
In response to this problem the MRC (Medical Research Center) has established
the world’s first center for the study against bacterial infection located at
the Imperial College London and led by Professor Gad Frankel. The ethos of the
center will be to use the latest in technology to gain new insights in bacterial
resistance and develop superior ways of combating disease and advancing Pathology.
In an experiment made possible by state of the art imaging technology, the
center adapted a CT Scanner to
visualize light generated by bacteria inside a mouse over the 11 day duration of
a bacterial infection. The results of which astounded researches; never before
had they actually seen live how bacteria behaved, developed and adapted to its
host body until eventually it was subdued by the mouse’s immune system. Further
to presenting bacterial cells, the imaging equipment could also be set to
illustrate in great detail the different immune system cell types created to
combat the bacterial invasion.
According to Professor Frankel, the use of imaging technology represents a
revolution in how researchers study bacteria and develop treatment. By
broadcasting live what happens inside the body, imaging can be used as an
effective diagnostic tool through which to test possible treatments and watch
for the best desired outcome; eliminating pathogen without leaving cells behind
to develop resistance, something not possible until now.
Although the group’s work is yet in its infancy with researchers only just scratching the surface of the potential for this new diagnostic approach, the hope is that the fresh insights gleamed by watching the drama unfold live will indeed provide researchers with new tools to understand and solve bacterial resistance.
Although the group’s work is yet in its infancy with researchers only just scratching the surface of the potential for this new diagnostic approach, the hope is that the fresh insights gleamed by watching the drama unfold live will indeed provide researchers with new tools to understand and solve bacterial resistance.
Source: http://www.medwow.com/articles/
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