Bugs beware frogs

A substance produced by American bullfrogs could be used to combat methycillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus .

Researchers at St Andrews University found that ranalexin, which is produced by the Rana species of frog, kills the bacterium if used in combination with another compound. The team hopes that dressings impregnated with the compounds can treat wounds infected with drug-resistant MRSA.

Microbiologist Peter Coote, who heads the team, said: "The development of new routes to target MRSA that do not result in the acquisition of resistance would greatly improve clinicians' ability to tackle infection."