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Bacteria turned into 'silver bullet' to combat flu [silver added to bacteria]
Telegraph (UK) ^ | 10:00PM BST 16 Oct 2010 | By Richard Gray, Science Correspondent

Posted on 10/18/2010 5:44:24 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin

Scientists have discovered that they can attach tiny studs of silver onto the surface of otherwise harmless bacteria, giving them the ability to destroy viruses.

They have tested the silver-impregnated bacteria against norovirus, which causes winter vomiting outbreaks, and found that they leaves the virus unable to cause infections.

The researchers now believe the same technique could help to combat other viruses, including influenza and those responsible for causing the common cold.

Professor Willy Verstraete, a microbiologist from the University of Ghent, Belgium, who unveiled the findings at a meeting of the Society for Applied Microbiology in London last week, said the bacteria could be incorporated into a nasal spray, water filters and hand washes to prevent viruses from being spread.

"We are using silver nanoparticles, which are extremely small but give a large amount of surface area as they can clump around the virus, increasing the inhibiting effect.

"There are concerns about using such small particles of silver in the human body and what harm it might cause to human health, so we have attached the silver nanoparticles to the surface of a bacterium. It means the silver particles remain small, but they are not free to roam around the body."

The bacteria used, Lactobacillus fermentum, is normally considered to be a "friendly" bacteria that is often found in yogurts and probiotic drinks that can help to aid digestion.

The researchers found that when grown in a solution of silver ions, the bacteria extrete tiny particles of silver, 10,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair, which stud the outside of the cells.

Although the bacteria eventually die as a result of the silver, they remain intact and the dead cells carrying the silver particles can then be added to solutions to create nasal sprays or handwashes.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bacteria; silver; virus
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1 posted on 10/18/2010 5:44:27 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
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To: DeaconBenjamin

colloidial silver? works for me.


2 posted on 10/18/2010 5:45:29 PM PDT by television is just wrong
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To: DeaconBenjamin
and found that they leaves the virus unable to cause infections.

Looks like they hired Smeagol to write.

3 posted on 10/18/2010 5:46:11 PM PDT by wastedyears (Know this, I will return to this land... rebuild where the ruins did stand)
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To: television is just wrong

+1 for CS.


4 posted on 10/18/2010 5:50:00 PM PDT by Delmarksman (Pro 2A Anglican American (Ford and Chevy kill more people than guns do, lets ban them))
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To: DeaconBenjamin

I am sure there will be unintended side affects.


5 posted on 10/18/2010 5:54:04 PM PDT by GeronL (http://libertyfic.proboards.com <--- My Fiction/ Science Fiction Board)
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To: GeronL

C.S. addicts.


6 posted on 10/18/2010 6:00:08 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (lame and ill-informed post)
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To: television is just wrong

“colloidial silver? works for me”

Well then, the FDA will just have to ban it.


7 posted on 10/18/2010 6:02:10 PM PDT by dljordan ("His father's sword he hath girded on, And his wild harp slung behind him")
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To: dljordan

.........and then the IRS will harvest us when we die.


8 posted on 10/18/2010 6:04:43 PM PDT by donhunt (No animals were harmed in the making of this message... yet.)
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To: television is just wrong

Just so long as it doesn’t turn me into a smurf.


9 posted on 10/18/2010 6:04:58 PM PDT by DrGunsforHands
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To: GeronL
Ask me about colloidal silver!"

I don't think this guy ever gets the flu!


10 posted on 10/18/2010 6:09:52 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Joe 6-pack

Is that Papa Smurf in that pic?


11 posted on 10/18/2010 6:12:46 PM PDT by dfwgator (Bring on the Yankees!)
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To: dfwgator
Damn sure ain't Smurfette to the right of him.

/johnny

12 posted on 10/18/2010 6:16:23 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Joe 6-pack

he was not happy he turned blue


13 posted on 10/18/2010 6:23:23 PM PDT by Flavius
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To: Joe 6-pack

Do you know how much Colloidal Silver a person has to consume to turn this color? A LOT!


14 posted on 10/18/2010 6:42:37 PM PDT by Arizona Carolyn
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To: DeaconBenjamin
Rememeber this guy? True-blue bids for Senate.
15 posted on 10/18/2010 6:47:09 PM PDT by Vide
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To: television is just wrong

Mesosilver works wonders IMHO.


16 posted on 10/18/2010 6:48:45 PM PDT by pandoraou812 (You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted and used against you)
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To: Arizona Carolyn
I know...but some people just insist on taking more initiative than others...

There's also a medical condition called methemoglobinemia, that results in bluish-hued skin, but has nothing to do with silver. It's an interesting condition because it arises from an enzyme imbalance and can be either a congenital/hereditary matter, or can be acquired later in life.

17 posted on 10/18/2010 6:55:22 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: GeronL
I am sure there will be unintended side affects.

If you take too much it tends to turn the skin blue. Plant derived colloidal silver probably wouldn't do this.

18 posted on 10/18/2010 7:11:05 PM PDT by TheThinker (Communists: taking over the world one kooky doomsday scenario at a time.)
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To: TheThinker

They can do a tie-in with the Smurfs!


19 posted on 10/18/2010 7:17:14 PM PDT by GeronL (http://libertyfic.proboards.com <--- My Fiction/ Science Fiction Board)
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To: neverdem; TigersEye
Interesting ping
20 posted on 10/18/2010 7:37:53 PM PDT by pandoraou812 (You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted and used against you)
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