An elusive bacteria is attacking the planet. The dangerous microorganism has already been found in animals and samples from sick people.
In recent years, scientists have discovered that there are bacteria that get used and resistant to the antibiotics meant to destroy them. Despite this our bodies have found a way to deal with them - they are still vulnerable to the effects of polymyxins. So far...
Chinese physicians have discovered a gene that makes the diseases invulnerable to antibiotics of the polymyxin class. This puts these drugs in the same group as the others, which are no longer able to destroy these dangerous microorganisms. The new gene was found in several animal species in South China. It turns out that it appears in some human diseases too.
The 1st gene known to science that boosts the resistance toward colistin is capable of moving from one bacteria to another with ease. While residing in it, it increases the bacteria's resistance to antibiotics. As far as we've known, other similar mutations were limited to the direct descendents of mutated microbes.
But this new gene lives in bacteria which cause some of the most terrifying and deadliest diseases. What this means in practicality is that many of the diseases that have been easily treatable so far can quickly become incurable.
Scientists from the South China University of Tropical Agriculture have found that the gene is becoming more widespread in South China. Besides in animal samples, it's now found in humans as well. It's been registered in 16 out of 1322 urine and blood samples, taken from various hospitals in the region.
The new gene has been called MCR-1. Scientists are worried that it has the ability to replicate automatically, making it elusive. It settles into the plasmids and even if treated by other antibiotics, it doesn't disappear.
We must quickly find a way to solve this problem, otherwise the very survival of the human race could come into question, say scientists.
