Scientists strike gold: 'Silver bullet' could finally beat colds, flu

Scientists strike gold: 'Silver bullet' could finally beat common cold

(Daily Mail) A ‘silver bullet’ against the common cold and other illnesses is being developed by scientists.

Tests show that arming bacteria with minute studs of silver endows them with the ability to combat viruses.

Norovirus, the winter vomiting bug, is unable to cause infections after coming into contact with the silver-impregnated bacteria.

Researchers believe the same technique could be used to ward off other viruses, including those which cause flu and the common cold.

Belgian professor Willy Verstraete discovered a way of ‘studding’ harmless bacteria often found in probiotic yoghurts with nanoparticles of silver, each thinner than a human hair.

Sprayed up the nose or rubbed into the hands, the silver-studded bacteria stop any viruses that cross their path from infecting cells.

As viruses need to hijack a cell’s internal machinery to live and breed, barring them entry leads to their death.

The common cold wreaks havoc among all age groups but the huge number of different viruses behind the symptoms means that a cure has, so far, eluded scientists.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1321363/Silver-bullet-finally-beat-...

My notes: I am not so sure that developing a bacteria that is resistant to silver is a good idea (it could be a horrible one if the bacteria was able to pass on the immunity to MRSA and other bacteria), but am nevertheless struck with mainstream scientists saying that nano-particles of silver prevent cold and flu viruses.  I wonder what all the naysayers will have to say about that?