As antibiotic resistance grows, researchers turn to copper to fight infections
When bacteria invade the urinary tract, the body has its own arsenal for fighting back.
When bacteria invade the urinary tract, the body has its own arsenal for fighting back.
The short version
- Among those weapons is an unlikely tool: copper.
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- Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The research builds on previous findings from the lab of Dr.
What happened
Sarguru Subash, an associate professor in the VMBS Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, showing that the body pumps copper into the urinary tract during infection to kill UTI-causing bacteria. "We know that copper plays an important role, but that also raises so many questions about how these pathogens adapt to the presence of increased copper," Subash said.
Why it matters
The immune system takes advantage of that property when responding to infection.
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