Wasps are dangerous little insects. They’re aggressive as heck, and being stung can be on a spectrum from incredibly painful to fatal.
But that venom isn’t just dangerous to humans. It can also wipe out bacteria – and scientists have just figured out how to retain the bacteria-killing part while removing the pesky “dangerous to humans” part.
The result? A potential new antibiotic based on a peptide in wasp venom that kills bacteria without harming human cells – although we need to note that so far the only living beings it’s been tested on were mice.
“We’ve repurposed a toxic molecule into one that is a viable molecule to treat infections,” said microbiologist and immunologist Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez of MIT. “By systematically analysing the structure and function of these peptides, we’ve been able to tune their properties and activity.”
Tired But Wired 