|
|
Photos Bacteria Bait
Since the nanoparticles latch onto an area of the cell critical for triggering an infection, it would be hard for the bacteria to develop a resistance to the nanoparticles (the same process that leads to antibiotic-resistance bacteria) and still cause an infection. The nanoparticles are several hundred nanometers in size, too big to migrate out of the digestive system and into the rest of the bird (or, potentially, human). Separate tests done by the scientists confirmed that no nanoparticles were found in any other tissues of the chicken's body. The nanoparticles can also be applied to the chicken feed at anytime to remove potentially deadly bacteria. For example, feeding animals the nanoparticles just before slaughter could reduce the risk of contaminating the meat with e. coli or other bacteria if a worker or machine accidentally nicks open the stomach or intestine. They have been tested in hundreds of chickens, rabbits and mice, none of which showed any reaction to the nanoparticles. The researchers eventually want to develop the nanoparticles to directly treat human diseases, specifically diarrheal diseases in the developing world, and have been in touch with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in an effort to develop the technology. "This is really an excellent opportunity to treat organisms without going through antibiotics," said Challa Kumar, a nanotechnology researcher at Louisiana State University who was not involved in the USDA-funded research. "It has a tremendous commercial potential. I don't see any reason why it should fail if they try it in human beings." Related Links: Tracy Staedter's blog: What the Tech? How Stuff Works: Nanotechnology |
advertisement
Put Discovery News on Your Site!
|
