"Revolutionary Weapon: Combating Antibiotic Resistance and Malaria Simultaneously"
Researchers at Florida International University have discovered a natural arsenic-containing antibiotic called arsinothricin (AST) that can combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria and also prevent the transmission of malaria. AST has shown effectiveness against notorious bacteria such as E. coli and Mycobacteria, as well as the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Unlike current antimalarial drugs, AST can prevent the parasite from infecting mosquitoes, breaking the malaria life cycle. The researchers have obtained a U.S. patent for AST and are continuing their research to develop it into a more effective antimalarial drug.