Scientists develop virus cream to nose out MRSA

A VIRUS-LADEN cream that is stuffed up the noses of hospital patients to prevent the spread of MRSA could be available in two years, it was revealed yesterday.

British scientists are at an advanced stage of developing the cream, which contains a cocktail of viruses that target the deadly super-bug bacteria.

Clinical trials are planned next year following promising laboratory tests in which the viruses wiped out more than 15 strains of MRSA.

If successful, the virus cream could be on the market in two to three years.

Dr Nick Housby, chief executive of the Coventry-based biotech company, Novolytics, which is carrying out the research, said: “We’re extremely optimistic. We know we can kill, in the laboratory, clinically relevant strains. It’s a question now of putting it into the right cream, in terms of the formulation, to make sure that it works.”

The cream contains a “cocktail” of three or four types of virus.

Once in the nose, the viruses will target and latch onto MRSA bacteria, injecting them with their own genetic material.

The bugs are reprogrammed to produce more viruses, which then break out of their host, destroying it in the process.

The viruses reproduce themselves, so repeat treatments will not be needed as often as with antibiotics.