Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global problem, causing over 1 million deaths annually. As bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, researchers are urgently looking for new treatments. Surprisingly, they may have found an answer in Australian oysters, specifically the Sydney rock oyster. Scientists have turned to marine life, like mollusks, to find new antimicrobial solutions. Mollusks, such as oysters, live in water full of bacteria but don’t have an immune system like humans. To survive, they likely rely on strong antimicrobial compounds in their blood. This led researchers to study the Sydney rock oyster’s blood and discover that it has powerful antibacterial properties. The team discovered that a special protein in the oyster’s blood (hemolymph) fights bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes pneumonia. This is especially important because biofilms—protective layers formed by bacteria—make infections like pneumonia harder to treat with regular antibiotics. Oysters could help tackle these biofilms, offering a way to fight stubborn infections.
An exciting part of the discovery is that when oyster proteins were combined with antibiotics, the antibiotics worked much better. The combination made antibiotics up to 32 times more effective, especially against bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are often resistant to treatment. This could lead to better treatments for infections that are hard to manage, particularly in people with weak immune systems. Another good sign is that oyster proteins didn’t harm human lung cells, meaning they could be safely used in treatments. Plus, using oyster proteins with lower doses of antibiotics could help reduce the overall use of antibiotics, slowing down the development of resistance. There are still questions about how environmental factors, like water quality, affect the oyster’s antimicrobial powers. However, the Sydney rock oyster can be farmed commercially, making it possible to produce enough of these proteins for testing in clinical trials.
As AMR continues to grow, alternatives like oyster-derived proteins could be a key part of the solution. Researchers are hopeful that this discovery could help improve the effectiveness of antibiotics and preserve their use in the future.
