Context: 

A new study by Southern Cross University suggests that oysters, particularly Sydney Rock Oysters, might help treat the growing global problem of superbugs.

More on the news:

• The study, published in PLOS ONE journal, reveals that proteins found in the blood (hemolymph) of the Sydney Rock Oyster can kill bacteria and enhance the effectiveness of some conventional antibiotics against a range of bacteria.
• The study found that oyster protein was effective at killing Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes, the bacteria that cause pneumonia and strep throat, respectively. 

Key Highlights of the study:

The protein found in the oyster blood not only kills bacteria but also enhances the effectiveness of antibiotics. 

When used with antibiotics, the oyster protein made them 2 to 32 times more effective at killing harmful bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The findings suggest that natural products from oysters could be developed into treatments for bacterial infections, offering an alternative to traditional antibiotics.

The protein was found to be non-toxic to human cells, which opens up the possibility of creating safe antibiotics derived from oyster blood.

The study also revealed that the oyster protein can kill bacteria in biofilms by preventing biofilm formation and disrupting existing biofilms, thus making the bacteria more susceptible to antibiotics at lower doses. 

• Biofilms are communities of bacteria that stick together, enabling them to evade antibiotics and the human immune system. 

Significance of this study 

• Due to overuse of antibiotics, bacteria are developing resistance, which is predicted to cause 40 million deaths by 2050. This highlights the urgent need to find new treatments discovered in this study.
• While it may take time to develop new antibiotics from oyster blood, this discovery provides hope for natural alternatives to fight infections and antibiotic resistance.
• The research opens doors for collaboration between scientists, aquaculture, and pharmaceutical industries to explore the potential of oyster-based treatment.