Two Species of Bacteria are now Cooperating to Prevent Heart attacks

Two species of bacteria are now "cooperating" to prevent strokes and heart attacks in human beings. These microorganisms are Staphylococcus Aureus and Escherichis Coli. With the aid of scientists at the Yakult Institute for Microbiological Research who use methods in genetic engineering, these bacteria produce staphylokinase - an enzyme that dissolves thrombus (blood clot) that cause strokes and heart failures.

Staphylokinase is actually produced by St. Aureus but becuse of its slow metabolic processed it cannot generate large quantities of this useful substance.

(Image by: Dennis Kunke)

E. Coli has been used extensively for this purpose since it has a faster metabolic rate than any other organism.