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We really have no option but to hope we can keep finding new antibiotics until we find a final solution using genetic engineering or nano bots.
by huytersd 3y ago
We really have no option but to hope we can keep finding new antibiotics until we find a final solution using genetic engineering or nano bots.
- jasfi 3y agoI know, we're locked in an arms race with bacteria (and fungi).
- DrScientist 3y ago> we find a final solution using genetic engineering or nano bots Why would such solutions be immune to the bacteria evolving escape? Or does the 'final' bit means you accidentally kill us all by genetic engineering or nano bots?
- huytersd 3y agoBecause if we have those tools we can always easily find new sites to attack. Molecular/nanoscale tools that can target specific cells would solve most of our illnesses, bacteria or no.
- DrScientist 3y agoIt may come as a surprise then that we already use molecular tools to fight bacteria. That's what antibiotics are - fairly small, relatively simple molecules. The problem with bacteria is they are a moving target - it's not as if they aren't constantly under attack from all sides already. Bacteriophage ( viruses that target bacteria ) are ubiquitous, there is bacteria on bacteria action ( in fact most current antibiotics are molecules one bacteria or fungi developed to kill another ), and organisms like us - are constantly trying to kill bacteria through multiple mechanisms.
- latexr 3y ago> We really have no option but to hope we can keep finding new antibiotics Sure we do. We could stop giving out antibiotics like candy for every sprained ankle and cough to not cultivate resistance.
- yreg 3y agoIf we have enough of them we can just rotate them around. Stop using a particular antibiotic for a few decades and the resistance against it drops.