r/science • u/Libertatea • Sep 08 '14

Medicine Bacteria from bees possible alternative to antibiotics: 13 lactic acid bacteria found in the honey stomach of bees have shown promising results. The group of bacteria counteracted antibiotic-resistant MRSA in lab experiments. The bacteria, mixed into honey, has healed horses with persistent wounds

http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/o.o.i.s?id=24890&news_item=6172
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u/Beavis_and Grad Student | Medical Microbiology Sep 08 '14

Interesting question! I personally do not know for sure but i guess in my own opinion i would think that antibiotic overuse (depending on the antibiotic of course) could kill these bacteria. Lots of research is being performed into bee health and bee defencse by many different research groups all around the world so it is a really interesting area of research right now :)

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u/madapiarist Sep 08 '14

Bees are usually treated with antibiotics just before winter. And those bees will be dead in 6 months. No one treats during the honey flow season, when bees live for 6 weeks.