The "Drinkable book" can save lives

According to the World Health Organization, 3.4 million people die each year due to health issues stemming from unsanitary water. The drinkable book contains nanoparticles of silver that can kill waterborne bacteria and purify up to 100 litres of water.  It is a sturdy sheet of paper loaded with silver and copper nanoparticles that kill dangerous microbes living in dirty water. In trials, the paper successfully removed more than 99% of bacteria.

Source: Theresa Dankovich, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh.

Scientists engineered baker's yeast to synthesize Opioids

Fig. Stanford team members, from the left are: postdoctoral researcher Isis Trenchard, associate professor of bioengineering Christina Smolke, chemistry graduate student Stephanie Galanie and research associate Kate Thodey. (Rod Searcey)

Scientists have engineered simple baker's yeast to synthesize pain killer component like hydrocodone without the help of poppies from sugar. Their smolke yeast contains 23 engineered genes from plants, bacteria and rats is capable of making a direct conversion from sugar to hydrocodone, as well as from sugar to thebaine, a precursor of opioid compounds that would essentially take the place of poppies in the production of pain medication. Engineered smolke yeast can produce hydrocodone in just three to five days. Bioengineered yeast is already used to produce the anti-malarial drug artemisinin. 

Ref: Stephanie Galanie et al., 2015, Science.

DOI: 10.1126/science.aac9373

Researchers turn to develop new antibiotics from seaweeds

British researchers are trying to use the antimicrobial properties of seaweeds from the country's coastline to develop a new generation of antibiotics in a bid to fight the growing threat of resistant superbugs. Antibiotic resistance is a serious and growing global problem. A previous World Health Organization (WHO) report stated that it is "now a major threat to public health". As the number of multidrug-resistant bacteria, also known as superbug, rises, there is an urgent need for new drugs that can be used to treat infections when others fail. Natural environments can be a rich source of antibiotics. A research team from the University of Exeter are trying to uncover properties that could form the basis for a new generation of antibiotics that can curb infections caused by superbugs, such as MRSA, Xinhua reported.

Source: Michiel Vos, University of Exeter, 2015.

Researchers turn E.coli into antibiotic producer

Fig. Erythromycin resistant Bacillus subtilis were spread on petridishes , the discs circled in red color hold new forms of erythromycin, and the zone around them indicates that the drug kills the surrounding bacteria.

E. coli is being used for producing human insulin and many pharmaceuticals. Recently, researchers manipulated E.coli for producing a new forms of antibiotic called erythromycin.