Viruses in the poo of endangered animals could be used to treat foot ulcers in diabetic patients.
The research team, led by Professor Graham Stafford, collected poo from animals such as Guinea baboons and Visayan pigs. They are working to turn them into treatments for people with diabetes who might lose a toe, foot or leg because of ulcers that can’t be treated.
The team found that bacteriophage commonly found in these animals’ poo, can kill infectious bacteria in ulcers when antibiotics do not work.
After more research, bacteriophage could be added to the dressings applied to ulcers.
“It provides an ever stronger reason to conserve endangered animals,” Stafford said.
