Getting Protection From Bacterial Attack

Mouldy Bean Curd Can Kill Bacteria

More than 2,500 years ago Chinese doctors discovered that they could use substances which were derived from one organism to slow down, or kill other organisms. They discovered that mouldy soya bean curd could heal things like boils, carbuncles and other infections.  However, it was not until 1877 that two French doctors, Louis Pasteur and Jules-Francois Joubert realised that bacteria might be used in the treatment of disease by utilising their tendency to attack other bacteria.

Fleming Uses Penicillin To Kill Bacteria

They discovered that the bacteria that caused anthrax grew very fast if they were introduced into urine samples which were free of micro-organisms, but died if what were then called common-air bacteria were present.

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However, it wasn’t until 1928 that the era of antibiotics really began. Sir Alexander Fleming discovered that a culture growing pus-producing bacteria had completely disappeared in an area where green mould was growing.  The organism that killed the bacteria was a species of penicillium, so Fleming named the substance penicillin.

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Early attempts at treating human infection with penicillin were not very successful because the substance was very unstable and not very potent. A series of tests and experiments eventually came up with a way to make stable penicillin that was strong enough to fight infection. In 1941 the drug was first used to cure infection and the results were quite dramatic.

Kill Bacteria And Immunise With A Virus

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Since 1948 a large number of substances which inhibit or kill bacteria and fungi have been discovered and doctors became aware that prevention of viral infection is a different thing altogether and viruses do not react to antibiotics. This is where the study of viruses in medical research became more common, even though Edward Jenner had already succeeded in vaccinating a boy against cowpox as far back as 1796.

Modern Antibiotics Kill Bacteria

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Modern antibiotics can combat most bacterial infections but there is an increasing incidence of infections that are actually antibiotic resistant. The bacteria have mutated and new ways must be found to combat them.

Virologists Immunise Against HPV and HIV

The past couple of years have seen amazing progress in the field of virology and techniques have been found to isolate, culture, inhibit and even kill them.  Recent innovations include the HPV vaccination which designed to prevent cervical cancer. During the past few weeks, there have been reports of a vaccine being developed that can cut the incidence of HIV infection by up to 30%. These techniques use viruses in minute doses to make the body produce its own defences against them. Then when there is a serious viral infection the body is equipped to fight it off.

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Kill Bacteria And Virus Before They Kill Us

Despite the progress science has made in the battle against bacteria, it seems that it is never won and just as the world seems to be rid of certain diseases, new bacteria and virus induced infections appear.  These microscopic life forms attack us at every opportunity and protecting ourselves from them is an on-going fight. The invasion continues.