Clue To MRSA Vaccine Is Bacteria's Sticky Glue

Link: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/120997.php

Sticky glue secreted by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus could be the clue scientists have been searching for to make an effective vaccine against MRSA, medical researchers heard at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn meeting being held this week at Trinity College, Dublin.

Around one third of all people and many animals carry Staphylococcus aureus, which simply lives on most of us as a biofilm fairly harmlessly. Occasionally it causes minor spots on our skin, abscesses and soft tissue infections and some people can get infected over and over again. On much rarer occasions it causes severe and life threatening infections that are significant medical problems. Many of these infections are made worse by the biofilm component of the overall disease, which helps to protect the bacteria from antibiotics.

"If individuals get infections many times, even after they have been cured by antibiotics, it indicates that their bodies have not become immune to Staph bacteria," said Professor Gerald Pier from Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA.

Staph bacteria tend to grow in cellular communities, particularly on medical devices commonly used on patients, producing what are called biofilm type infections. The devices range from simple catheters placed into blood vessels to those used for blood access for patients on dialysis to artificial heart valves, knees and hips. All patients with these types of devices in them have an increased risk for Staph infections. Living in biofilms protects the bacteria from antibiotics, making treatment more difficult.

"To grow as a biofilm the bacteria must produce sticky factors, one of which is a type of complex sugar called PNAG. We are targeting this material as a possible vaccine, but natural exposure to the sugar compound does not result in most people and animals making an immune response that would protect them from attack by the bacteria or recurring infections," said Professor Pier.

By manipulating the sugar chemically the scientists have discovered that they can produce variant forms which can be used as vaccines by causing the right type of immune response, an approach that has already been shown to work successfully in animal studies.

"We now have a way to tip the balance for resistance to infection back towards humans by vaccination," said Professor Pier. "It is most likely that one or more forms of the vaccine will be prepared to test in humans to see which form is best to get the most desirable antibodies made."

In addition, the researchers have created an antibody with the desired properties to give to people if they have a high risk of getting a Staph infection, thus preventing infection. "This antibody is being manufactured to start tests in humans in about 12 to 18 months," said Professor Pier. "An effective antibody treatment for Staph infections could have a major benefit for anyone who enters a hospital or works in the community and is at risk of Staph infections."

Manuka Honey for Treating MRSA

Research has shown that Manuka Honey has been shown to be effective as a topical application for treating MRSA:

http://bio.waikato.ac.nz/honey/contents.shtml

http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2001/november/Molan/honey-as-topical-agent.html

Dr. Molan has been a leader and pioneer in Honey Research and came up with the concept of the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF). They don't really know the exact "stuff" in honey that contributes to its antibacterial properties but they can compare the effectiveness of the honey against a known control substance. In this case, they compare the honey with phenol:

New Zealand manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honey is sold with the activity of its phytochemical antibacterial component rated on a 'UMF' scale, with the 'UMF' number being the equivalent concentration of phenol with the same antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (i.e. UMF 15 = 15% phenol)[1]

The UMF is a good way to standardize the Honey so you know what you are getting.

[1] Honey as a topical antibacterial agent for treatment of infected wounds, Dr. Peter Molan, PHD, December 2001

Allicin (Garlic) cures MRSA infection

MRSA Cure on the high street:

The new research, due to be published in the Journal of Alternatives in Natural Therapy in September 2008, will be welcomed by thousands of people affected by the superbug, from patients, doctors, nurses, community care workers and people due to be admitted into hospitals.
The patient study program followed 52 patients suffering from hospital acquired MRSA-infected wounds. MRSA infection was verified through swabbing and analysis in UEL laboratories. Patients were asked to take up to 1350mg of stabilised allicin capsules and some were asked to spray a stabilised allicin liquid or use a cream formulation on the infected area twice daily. All 52 case studies treated with stabilised allicin recovered fully from their MRSA infection. Many wounds healed between 4 and 12 weeks of starting treatment.
The paper also highlights in detail three case studies of patients with confirmed MRSA infections at multiple sites. All had been treated with a series of conventional antibiotics (oral, topical and intravenous) in hospital but were discharged when antibiotics proved to be ineffective.

This is Allicin from Allimax. It usually comes in a pack of 30 (180mg) capsules but higher dose capsules are available as well.

You can buy it for about $24.99 for the standard 30 pack. Doing a quick math analysis,
you will need to take:

• 1350mg/180mg = 7.5 capsules/day

The cost of a four week treatment will be:

• 7.5 capsules/day * 7 days/week * 4 weeks = 210 capsules
• 210 /30 = 7 packs
• 7 * 24.99 = $174.93

The cost of a 12 week treatment will be:

• 7.5 capsules/day * 7 days/week * 12 weeks = 630 capsules
• 630 /30 = 21 packs
• 21 * 24.99 = $524.29

This is CHEAP if it can truly cure the MRSA infections! And you don't need a prescription for this.

I will be eagerly looking for this publication when it comes out this month.

Manuka Oil vs Tea Tree for MRSA

Research has shown that Tea Tree Oil is effective as a topical application for treating MRSA:

http://www.tto.bcs.uwa.edu.au/
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/f-w98/teatrees.html

However, Manuka Oil appears to be 20-30 times more effective than Tea Tree Oil in killing MRSA and other types of bacteria:



source: http://www.manuka-nz.co.nz/article_info.php/articles_id/34/

WARNING: There are numerous products (soap, shampoo, creams, etc) on the market today that includes Tea Tree Oil but may not be effective in treating MRSA and actually increase MRSA antibiotic resistance.

Research shows that these products need to contain a minimum of 4% Tea Tree Oil to be effective in killing MRSA. Perhaps the required Manuka Oil concentration may be even less?

The good news is that it's easy to make your own shampoos and liquid soaps. TheTruthAboutTeeTree site provides a lot of good information about Tee Tree Oils and info how to make your own.