A study carried out in the United Kingdom, with a virus present in animal feces, may solve the problems faced by patients with diabetes.
Without adequate treatment, these people can develop ulcers on their feet which, due to the presence of some types of bacteria, can evolve and lead to amputation of the limb.
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Known as bacteriophages, these viruses can kill bacteria present in animal feces. Therefore, a team of scientists from the University of Sheffield, in the United Kingdom, studied the behavior of the virus, testing whether they can combat resistant bacteria.
To carry out the research, the team used the feces of animals from the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, a place that is home to around 70 species in England. Among the animals, there are endangered species that can also contribute to research.
“Despite the smell, it turns out that fecal matter from endangered species could be the key to eliminating bacteria infectious diseases that would otherwise be resistant to antibiotics,” said Graham Stafford, a microbiologist who leads the study.
So far, they have already obtained samples of the bacteriophages in the feces of Guinea baboons, lemurs, giraffes, Visayan pigs and binturongs, a mammalian animal.
(Image: University of Sheffield/Reproduction)
On a statement done by the university, Stafford stated that he is excited about the research, as it could become a viable and efficient treatment for diabetic patients.
Furthermore, this treatment would also result in a cost reduction in the health department of the England. The country has around 75,000 people being treated for foot ulcers and approximately 7,000 amputations are performed annually due to the infection.
The groundbreaking research is carried out with the support of staff at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. They collect samples that are stored in refrigerators. Subsequently, microbiologists begin a process of mixing with water and filtering to isolate the bacteriophages.
Then, they carry out an analysis with the bacteria to catalog the action of the virus in each single-celled organism.
At the moment, the research is in the testing phase with different samples of bacteriophages. It is expected that, in the future, clinical trials will be carried out to determine the effectiveness of treatment with the virus that was removed from the animals' feces.
