New Maggot Juice May Save Your Life

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Larva therapy, a method used to clean out wounds for centuries, is making a comeback in modern medicine. In the latest development, researchers claim they have purified an antibiotic from maggot secretions that kills many strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), as well as other bacteria. This new maggot juice may someday give patients all the benefits of the larva's antibacterial properties, without the ick-factor of using actual larvae on a wound. When some species of fly larvae are applied directly to wounds, they munch away on dead tissue, leaving healthy tissue intact. But keeping the maggots in a pouch on top of the infection seems to work, too, because the larvae secrete microbe-killing enzymes through the cloth.

Scientists at Swansea University in Wales isolated the healing component—named Seraticin—from green bottle fly larvae, which normally infest rotting meat. The extract worked against MRSA, E. coli, and C. difficile in laboratory tests. Seraticin may become a new tool to fight antibiotic-resistant infections, which are a growing problem for hospitals nationwide. MRSA alone leads to about 19,000 American deaths a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The researchers still need to identify the specific chemical that's attacking bacteria and find a way to mass produce it. Right now, it takes about 20 mugs of larvae to make one drop of the antibiotic, according to Norman Ratcliffe, a professor at Swansea University who is leading the research. So, until Seraticin comes in a lotion or pill, people will have to overcome their gag reflex and go straight for the worms.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblo...save-your-life/

[HAL 9000 96]

Sweet... MRSA fighting maggots... just sweet.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well as long as you don't have to drink it...

That just sounds damnable.

[*JG* 2]

The worst thing I will ever drink is wheat grass. I'll never get anything close to maggots near my body until I am dead.

[jundp 191]

Um. Just no.

Although if you don't look too closely, this sort of looks like Spaetzle.

[MissStacey 1]

As much as I am grossed out by maggots- I really am amazed at what they can do.

If I was ever in a position where my flesh was rotting away from some dreadful infection- I would suck it up and let the maggots have a field day on me.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The use of maggots to clean wounds isn't particularly controversial. The introduce them into the wound, then cover it up to let them eat the necrotised tissue.

Better than having your leg turn green and fall off...

[Ilya R. 0]

MAGGOTS to the RESCUE!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

As much as I am grossed out by maggots- I really am amazed at what they can do.

If I was ever in a position where my flesh was rotting away from some dreadful infection- I would suck it up and let the maggots have a field day on me.

I think it helps the patient to name them... that's Suzie, Peter, oh and there's Bobby with his ferocious appetite.

[HAL 9000 96]

As much as I am grossed out by maggots- I really am amazed at what they can do.

If I was ever in a position where my flesh was rotting away from some dreadful infection- I would suck it up and let the maggots have a field day on me.

I think it helps the patient to name them... that's Suzie, Peter, oh and there's Bobby with his ferocious appetite.

Some crazy lady did that on one of those Discovery ER shows... but the organisms in question were earthworms the lady shoved in to her thighs and arms.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

As much as I am grossed out by maggots- I really am amazed at what they can do.

If I was ever in a position where my flesh was rotting away from some dreadful infection- I would suck it up and let the maggots have a field day on me.

I think it helps the patient to name them... that's Suzie, Peter, oh and there's Bobby with his ferocious appetite.

Some crazy lady did that on one of those Discovery ER shows... but the organisms in question were earthworms the lady shoved in to her thighs and arms.

Good gawd...what on earth for???

[HAL 9000 96]

Dunno dude... she was crazy... that's all. Oh... and after they took out the worms she insisted on keeping them.

[rclouse 0]

Well, at least it doesn't sound unappetizing.

[Niels Bohr 72]

People eat maggots all the time. My mother likes them.

[KiKi 0]

I have nightmares about crawly things coming up out of my skin......blech!

I'd rather eat them than have them burrowing in my flesh.....shudders