Latest news with #Klebsiella
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Maverick
How science and AI can help us build safer, fairer food systems
Science is evolving, and with it, new technologies offer a lifeline in tackling food safety. But it must leap off research papers and into the daily lives of farmers, vendors and consumers. As the world becomes increasingly connected and complex, the safety of our food remains one of the most fundamental public health issues of our time. Whether you're in a bustling city or a rural farming community, food safety matters. It's not just about avoiding stomach aches, it's about preventing life-threatening diseases, protecting livelihoods and maintaining trust in the systems that feed us. As researchers studying how harmful bacteria like E. coli or Klebsiella contaminate fresh produce, we've seen how fragile the food chain can be. Contamination can occur at any stage, from the quality of irrigation water and the condition of soil, to how livestock are managed near crops. And when these pathogens are resistant to antibiotics, the consequences become even more severe. In parts of Africa, where food insecurity is already a concern, the risks of unsafe food are amplified. Food safety must be seen not only as a scientific concern but as a matter of social justice. The exciting (and urgent) question today is: what role can science and AI play in addressing this issue? This is not an abstract issue. It's a daily reality for millions. In informal markets, where many South Africans buy their food, safety can hinge on thin margins and even thinner regulations. But the myth that all informal food is unsafe needs to be debunked. Many vendors maintain excellent hygiene; what they need is support, not stigma. Fair regulation, training and infrastructure for these vendors would go a long way towards making food safety more inclusive and equitable. What the public often doesn't see is that food safety begins long before the supermarket shelf or dinner plate. It starts on the farm, with the quality of water, the cleanliness of tools and the handling practices throughout the food chain. It's also linked to the presence of nearby animal husbandry – livestock such as pigs and chickens can be sources of contamination, particularly through irrigation water and runoff. Science is evolving, and with it, new technologies offer a lifeline. Artificial intelligence (AI) in particular can help us predict food safety risks before they spiral into crises. Imagine a system where farmers can receive alerts if their water supply is contaminated, or where algorithms detect early warning signs of a foodborne outbreak from health and environmental data. AI can help inspect food quality faster, trace products more accurately and identify contamination patterns invisible to the human eye. Critically, these tools must be affordable and accessible, not just for large-scale exporters, but also for smallholder farmers and local markets. Otherwise, we risk deepening inequality in the name of safety. A safer and fairer food system in 10 years doesn't start in the future, it starts today, with urgent and practical action. We need to invest in applied research, especially in emerging threats like antimicrobial resistance and climate-related contamination. We must support small-scale farmers and informal food workers with training, infrastructure and simple safety tools. We need adaptive policy frameworks that promote compliance through support, not just penalties. Food safety education must be embedded in schools and public campaigns, so that knowledge spreads beyond technical circles. And we need to break down silos between agriculture, health, technology and trade, because food safety is everyone's issue. There's one more piece: public awareness. Too often, people believe that if food smells, looks and tastes fine, it's safe. But many of the most dangerous pathogens don't announce themselves. At the same time, people underestimate their own role in food safety. Washing hands, separating raw and cooked foods, refrigerating perishables – these aren't trivial tasks, they are essential final steps on a much longer food safety journey. Consumers are vital guardians of food safety. The kitchen is often where the final barrier against illness lies. When consumers understand their place in the system, and when producers are equipped to act, we get what World Food Safety Day is all about: a culture of prevention, not reaction. In the end, science is only as powerful as its reach. It must leap off research papers and into the daily lives of farmers, vendors and consumers. It must inform policy, shape education and guide innovation, not for its own sake, but for the people who depend on safe food to live, work and thrive. Food safety is not a distant issue. It's the ground beneath our health systems, our economies and our everyday lives. As a researcher and African, I see the promise of a future where technology and tradition work together, where no one has to choose between having enough food and having safe food. DM Manana Dlangalala is a PhD researcher at the University of Pretoria and a Fulbright Scholar. Professor Lise Korsten is president of the African Academy of Sciences and co-director of the DSTI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security. This is the second in a series of Food Indaba op-eds providing insights on the key themes being discussed by experts involved in shaping the food system, providing an opportunity for food growers, academics, activists, writers, nutritionists, policymakers, food lovers and anyone interested in sustainable approaches to engage in key issues intimately connected to the food we eat, and the future of food.
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Urologists reveal why treating urine infections is getting harder, warn against rising antibiotic resistance
Chances are, at some point in your life, you have had a urinary tract infection (UTI), and, therefore, know that it can be pretty inconvenient and uncomfortable. Be it due to the relentless urge to pee or the pain or burning when urinating. If the infection doesn't go away within days, you may have to take antibiotics. Also read | UTI cases on the rise: Doctor explains it's link with summer heat, shares prevention tips In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Sanman Gowda, HOD and consultant, urology, KMC Hospital, Mangalore and Dr Mohammed Shahid Ali, consultant, urology, uro-oncology, robotic surgery and renal transplantation, Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road highlighted how the antibiotic resistance of bacteria involved in UTIs is a serious global public health problem. Dr Gowda said, 'UTI commonly affects both males and females. However, the female gender is more frequently affected. Nearly 50-60 percent women suffer from an episode of UTI at least once in their lifetime. Risk factors associated with UTI include congenital birth defects in the urinary tract, old age, diabetes, kidney stones, and immunosuppression.' Dr Gowda said that treatment of UTI typically involved antibiotics for 5-7 days. 'In recent years, getting affected by complicated UTIs, for which most antibiotics do not act (resistance), is becoming more frequent. Of late, irrational use of antibiotics has complicated the scenario,' he said. Why was that the case? Dr Gowda explained, 'There are various reasons for antibiotic resistance, first and foremost being the over-the-counter buying and usage of antibiotics without a medical prescription/ supervision. Second, being either an inappropriate antibiotic, or inappropriate dosage, or an inappropriate duration. The third reason is noncompliance from patients, and the final and most important is the usage of reserve or high-end antibiotics for uncomplicated UTIs. Not getting a urine culture done in recurrent UTIs is also contributory.' Dr Ali said, 'Treating complicated urinary tract infections is often a challenge we face in day-to-day practice. These cases usually involve patients with underlying issues like diabetes, kidney stones, or catheters, and are caused by more resistant bacteria like Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, or ESBL-producing E coli.' He added, 'Unlike uncomplicated UTIs that respond to short courses of oral antibiotics, complicated ones often need long-term or even intravenous antibiotics. The real challenge is that many of these bacteria are now resistant to commonly available antibiotics, which limits our treatment options.' According to Dr Gowda, the antibiotic resistance of bacteria involved in UTIs was a serious global public health problem, leading to increased morbidity and mortality – and there is an urgent need for drastic measures to optimise antibiotic usage. He said, 'Certain bacteria, causing UTI, are now showing resistance to one or more of the commonly prescribed antibiotics, and sometimes resistance to most antibiotics (pan-resistant/multidrug-resistant).' Dr Ali said, 'With antimicrobial resistance on the rise, the chances of treatment failure, prolonged illness, sepsis, ICU admissions, morbidity, and mortality are higher. This situation may also be attributed to the rampant, indiscriminate over-the-counter availability and usage of antibiotics without proper guidelines in primary care. That's why antibiotic stewardship and better infection control are more important than ever.' As a way to tackle this 'serious issue', Dr Gowda said there was a need for better antibiotic usage practices and policies, and to create public awareness: 'It is imperative to consult a urologist when you experience symptoms of UTI, like burning urination, increased frequency of urination, lower abdominal or flank pain with associated fever. Patients are advised to take antibiotics only when prescribed by a doctor and to ensure they complete the full course of treatment.' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
India.com
03-05-2025
- Health
- India.com
Forgotten Virus Found To Kill Superbugs—Scientists Stunned By Hidden Weapon
Zee Media Bureau May 03, 2025 A strange virus scientists once brushed off as a mere curiosity has now been found hiding in plain sight. Shockingly, it may help wipe out deadly, drug-resistant bacteria. Called telomere phages, these viruses infect bacteria—but instead of harming humans, they may help "good" bacteria destroy dangerous ones. Until recently, scientists thought these phages only had a unique way of replicating DNA. But now, they've discovered something far more powerful. Researchers in Australia found telomere phages lurking inside Klebsiella, a harmful bacteria known to cause pneumonia and resist antibiotics. It turns out these phages aren't rare—they're everywhere. Scientists discovered them across thousands of Klebsiella strains, even in water samples. These phages produce special toxins called telocins. These toxins act like targeted weapons, allowing good bacteria to kill off rival, drug-resistant ones. This could mark a major turning point in the war against antibiotic-resistant infections. Nature may have already created a smart bacterial control system. Scientists now aim to figure out how these toxins are released and how they sneak into enemy bacteria. This discovery could lead to powerful new treatments. Read Next Story
India.com
03-05-2025
- Health
- India.com
Forgotten Virus Unleashes Hidden Superpower—Could This Be Key To Killing Drug-Resistant Bacteria?
Sydney: A virus long dismissed as a scientific oddity has been found hiding in plain sight, and it may help fight dangerous bacteria, according to a study. The study focussed on bacteriophages (phages) -- viruses that infect bacteria and come in many forms. In particular, researchers investigated telomere phages -- a type of phage that until now was considered a 'curiosity'. These viruses aren't just passive passengers as they may actually help good bacteria wipe out neighbouring bad ones, Xinhua news agency reported. Previous studies decoded only their unique DNA replication mechanism. The new study, published in Science Advances, discovered that bacteria carrying telomere phages produce toxins that kill off rival bacteria. Researchers from Monash University, Australia discovered that telomere phage is surprisingly common in Klebsiella. Klebsiella is a type of bacteria that can cause pneumonia and serious drug-resistant infections. "For more than 20 years of intensive bacterial genomics, telomere phages had remained hidden in plain sight. We have missed an entire aspect of biology," said Trevor Lithgow, head of Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Bacterial Cell Biology Lab. Lithgow stated sequencing a clinical Klebsiella strain led to the finding of a fourth telomere phage. The analysis revealed that telomere phages are not rare curiosities. Instead, these are highly prevalent throughout the thousands of lineages of Klebsiella, including strains collected from waterway environments, the researcher said. Further, the discovery of toxins -- 'telocins' (for telomere-phage toxins) -- was found to enable a bacterial management strategy. While the 'good' bacteria carrying telomere phages will kill neighbouring 'bad' Klebsiella, the 'bad' bacteria would be antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella, Lithgow said. "We now want to understand how the host secretes the toxin and also understand how the toxin wheedles its way into the unsuspecting bacterial neighbors," said Sally Byers from the Lithgow Laboratory. The team believes these helpful viruses could exist in many other bacteria, too.
Hans India
02-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Hidden virus found common in germs that cause pneumonia: Study
A virus long dismissed as a scientific oddity has been found hiding in plain sight, and it may help fight dangerous bacteria, according to a study. The study focussed on bacteriophages (phages) -- viruses that infect bacteria and come in many forms. In particular, researchers investigated telomere phages -- a type of phage that until now was considered a 'curiosity'. These viruses aren't just passive passengers as they may actually help good bacteria wipe out neighbouring bad ones, Xinhua news agency reported. Previous studies decoded only their unique DNA replication mechanism. The new study, published in Science Advances, discovered that bacteria carrying telomere phages produce toxins that kill off rival bacteria. Researchers from Monash University, Australia discovered that telomere phage is surprisingly common in Klebsiella. Klebsiella is a type of bacteria that can cause pneumonia and serious drug-resistant infections. "For more than 20 years of intensive bacterial genomics, telomere phages had remained hidden in plain sight. We have missed an entire aspect of biology," said Trevor Lithgow, head of Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Bacterial Cell Biology Lab. Lithgow stated sequencing a clinical Klebsiella strain led to the finding of a fourth telomere phage. The analysis revealed that telomere phages are not rare curiosities. Instead, these are highly prevalent throughout the thousands of lineages of Klebsiella, including strains collected from waterway environments, the researcher said. Further, the discovery of toxins -- 'telocins' (for telomere-phage toxins) -- was found to enable a bacterial management strategy. While the 'good' bacteria carrying telomere phages will kill neighbouring 'bad' Klebsiella, the 'bad' bacteria would be antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella, Lithgow said. "We now want to understand how the host secretes the toxin and also understand how the toxin wheedles its way into the unsuspecting bacterial neighbors," said Sally Byers from the Lithgow Laboratory. The team believes these helpful viruses could exist in many other bacteria, too.
