Leprosy could help our bodies - 25th September 2023

Bacteria from the disease leprosy could help our bodies. This dangerous illness has existed for thousands of years. But scientists at the University of Edinburgh are using leprosy bacteria to grow new liver cells.

The liver’s the organ which turns food into energy. In these tests, the liver grew to almost twice its size, without any negative effects. The bacteria caused this change so that they had more space to multiply.

The research used armadillo livers. DNA tests showed that the new liver cells were healthy. They were also younger than the animal’s normal liver cells.

People used to be afraid of leprosy. They stayed away from anyone with it. Today, about 250,000 people get the disease every year, but patients now take medicines to kill the bacteria.

Scientists have already grown organ cells from different adult cells. But these new cells got cancer more often. The healthy livers in the university’s tests have amazed Professor Aruna Rambukkana. He said, "There is no cell therapy that can do that".

More testing is needed, says Professor Darious Widera from the University of Reading. Tests on people may have different results, and leprosy’s a serious illness.

But Professor Rambukkana’s hopeful. Leprosy may repair our bodies one day.