Frogs provide infection clues

Scientists are screening skin secretions from more than 6,000 frog species in the hope of finding new antibiotics.

So far more than 100 substances have been identified.

They include a compound from a rare American species – the foothill yellow-legged frog, pictured – that shows promise for killing the notorious superbug methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Experts hope to copy the chemical structures of the frog substances to produce drugs that can defeat resistant bacteria.

Some of the compounds could be tested on patients in clinical trials within the next five years.

Biochemist Dr Michael Conlon, who is leading the work at the United Arab Emirates University in Abu Dhabi, said: "Frog skin is an excellent potential source of such antibiotic agents.

"They've been around 300 million years, so they've had plenty of time to learn how to defend themselves against disease-causing microbes in the environment.

"Their own environment includes polluted waterways where strong defences against pathogens are a must."