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magical thyme

(14,881 posts)

15. so once again stupid humans fed a therapeutic drug (Colistin) to factory animals (pigs)

Fri Nov 20, 2015, 09:23 AM

Nov 2015

and are surprised, shocked and horrified that the bacteria resident in the pigs developed immunity to the drug.

This has been known for a long, long time. That this time the factory "farmers" chose to use a drug from the 'last resort' class of drugs shows stupidity of incredible levels.

Bacteria evolve in realtime. Bacteria DNA doesn't have the "proofreader/editor" capabilities of "higher" animals. Therefore, random mutations occur with much greater frequency. That increases the odds of a random mutation that confers a competitive advantage appearing and subsequently getting a toehold.

It is unfortunate that in this particular case, the gene in question seems to get passed around quite easily. Apparently it has been found in both e. coli and k. pneumoniae.

DON'T BUY PIG MEAT OF ANY TYPE FROM CHINA. And if you do break down, wash your hands/countertops/utensils/etc and cook it thoroughly.

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Well, humans, we had a good run: "invincible" bacteria found in the wild [View all] Recursion Nov 2015 OP

And now that this is known, how long before it becomes weaponized? villager Nov 2015 #1

It wouldn't surprise me if that's where it originated in the first place. nt Quackers Nov 2015 #2

nope. per the article, theraputic drugs fed to factory pigs in China. nt magical thyme Nov 2015 #16

I watched a segment on Thom Hartman that talked about jwirr Nov 2015 #39

yup. another bunch of reasons to oppose the TPP. nt magical thyme Nov 2015 #41

So, instead of nuking them we'll give them genital boils. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2015 #3

Why bother, it will exist everywhere pediatricmedic Nov 2015 #38

... Alkene Nov 2015 #4

#UPDATE: World Health Organization confirms new Ebola case in Liberia, previously declared free of t riversedge Nov 2015 #5

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Nov 2015 #47

It's really their planet, we just think we own it. nt bemildred Nov 2015 #6

Penicillin wasn't discovered until 1928 Spider Jerusalem Nov 2015 #7

Yeah, we survived at about 1/7th our current population (nt) Recursion Nov 2015 #10

Which is probably the right carrying capacity of the Earth for humans FLPanhandle Nov 2015 #14

Unfortunately, yes. smirkymonkey Nov 2015 #21

the scope of suffering will be agonizing to us personally, but you're right zazen Nov 2015 #23

The poor, the sick, the elderly and yes those living in close jwirr Nov 2015 #40

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Nov 2015 #48

It's a fact FLPanhandle Nov 2015 #54

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Nov 2015 #55

Probably had more to do with our agricultural capacity Crunchy Frog Nov 2015 #57

True; pre Haber and Borlaug Recursion Nov 2015 #58

You say that like it's a bad thing Spider Jerusalem Nov 2015 #63

That was before we bred like rabbits and packed ourselves into cities like sardines NickB79 Nov 2015 #45

Birth rates were higher back then Recursion Nov 2015 #59

These darn anti-vaxxers bigwillq Nov 2015 #8

The rise of the Bac-Terrorists. postulater Nov 2015 #9

Let's put them on a list and watch them intently. smorkingapple Nov 2015 #11

OMG! We're ALL going to DIE. It's for reals this time! alphafemale Nov 2015 #12

We're already over populated 951-Riverside Nov 2015 #13

Nature has many tools. jwirr Nov 2015 #42

so once again stupid humans fed a therapeutic drug (Colistin) to factory animals (pigs) magical thyme Nov 2015 #15

How am I supposed to know if it's from China? KamaAina Nov 2015 #24

iirc, some big pig companies are in Mexico. So research the companies or... magical thyme Nov 2015 #25

Time for the dolphins to take over damnedifIknow Nov 2015 #17

Actually, dophins can be some pretty nasty fucks too. FLPanhandle Nov 2015 #18

really? I'm kinda afraid to ask . . . . zazen Nov 2015 #22

Yep. FLPanhandle Nov 2015 #44

Oh man!! darkangel218 Nov 2015 #56

i did it too...oh gawd my mind is ruined. nt. JanMichael Nov 2015 #67

Gene drive the bug to make it susceptible to pennicillan AngryAmish Nov 2015 #19

There is no safety in the cosmos. Alan Watts Tierra_y_Libertad Nov 2015 #20

We've had a long run. Whether we've had a good one could be debated for a century. merrily Nov 2015 #26

It's A- ruffburr Nov 2015 #27

It's 'nature,' 'progress' will do us in. elleng Nov 2015 #28

I think the human race has proven its obsolescence. lpbk2713 Nov 2015 #29

I've had similar thoughts for a while. NaturalHigh Nov 2015 #31

Well, that's it for us monkeys. NaturalHigh Nov 2015 #30

Pfffttt...the bacteria in my stomach LAUGHS at this super bug! Rex Nov 2015 #32

I suppose this will take care of most of the big city problems. Shandris Nov 2015 #33

Enjoy the weekend everyone! Ace Rothstein Nov 2015 #34

I ain't skeered... Blue_Tires Nov 2015 #35

really? let's bring it to a highly populated location and do experiments. librechik Nov 2015 #36

And that's how the zombie apocalypse gets started. Initech Nov 2015 #37

They DID NOT find an invincible new bacteria - it's a gene that can make bacteria resistant. Avalux Nov 2015 #43

Well. at least we really left our mark on the planet. bluedigger Nov 2015 #46

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Nov 2015 #49

Per your own link, this is not a wide-spectrum antibiotic NickB79 Nov 2015 #50

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Nov 2015 #52

I want to be clear that "we had a good run" was tongue in cheek Recursion Nov 2015 #61

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Nov 2015 #62

so the race is on. Teixobactin was discovered roughly a year ago. magical thyme Nov 2015 #68

Were definitely going to have to pray to the Science and Tech gods to find a solution for this AZ Progressive Nov 2015 #65

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Nov 2015 #66

Sounds like a bad time to have an anti science moron randys1 Nov 2015 #51

Silver works to kill bacteria Manifestor_of_Light Nov 2015 #53

Quote: LiberalElite Nov 2015 #60

This is the fault of Big Agra. Speeding up evolution to make bacteria super resistent. AZ Progressive Nov 2015 #64