Sunday, February 12, 2012

FOR KDS: Killing a bacterial killer

A common, cheap element offers hope against deadly bacterial infections

Web edition : Friday, February 10th, 2012

Even among poisons, Shiga toxin is particularly nasty. When this substance gets inside the body, it can damage blood vessels, causing them to lose large amounts of blood. Produced by single-celled organisms called bacteria, including a common type of E. coli, this poison can kill quickly.

That?s why scientists from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh were excited to discover that a mineral called manganese may lessen the bite of Shiga toxin.?Their experiments suggest this metallic food supplement might offer a fast and affordable cure for?formerly deadly infections.

Visit the new?Science News for Kids?website?and read the full story:?Killing a bacterial killer


Found in: Science News For Kids

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/338374/title/FOR_KDS_Killing_a_bacterial_killer

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