Does sea floor hold key to new medications ?

Image credit: Rubén Laguna

Creatures living at the bottom of the sea could provide powerful new ways to fight infection and disease. As the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria becomes an ever greater concern, scientists are leaving no stone unturned in researching new medications to help combat infections, illnesses and other health problems. One of the most promising places to look in this regard is the sea, or more precisely, the sea floor. Several species have been identified as potential sources of new treatments. One such example is the shipworm, a mollusk that affixes itself to wooden boats and feeds on the hull.
Researchers have discovered that bacteria used by the creature to convert the wood in to a suitable food source secretes a powerful antibiotic - something that could be particularly valuable for use on humans in the coming years. Sea life studies aid researchers in several ways, including the development of new medications and biofuels. Because many of these ocean animal species have existed in harmony with their bacteria for millions of years, these benign bacteria have devised molecules that can affect body function without side effects and therefore better fight disease.

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