| Pandas have often been viewed as useful animals: For years, they've been a powerful force for international diplomacy, as well as tourism dollars. Yet now the biologically distinctive animals are being seen as something else altogether, a potential source of ultra-potent anti-viral medicines. What are being called "super-antibiotics."
The unlikely seeming discovery comes from scientists at the Life Sciences College of Nanjing Agricultural University in China. Lead researcher Dr. Xiuwen Yang said that chemicals in panda blood would work, (quote) "against a wide spectrum of microorganisms including bacteria and fungi, both standard and drug-resistant strains."
The need for antibiotics effective against drug-resistant strains of diseases is a major concern of world health authorities today who fear new or returning epidemics. While it's too early to say whether panda blood extracts will really become prescription cure-alls, they are now certain to draw attention—and research funding.... |
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