The antibiotic tested is called cephaloridine and in the '60s and '70s, it was used on humans, where it was an effective ally in fighting off respiratory and urinary tract infections. It is a Beta lactam antibiotic, which is the same as penicillin. The drug works best when administered by injection, as it is not efficiently absorbed in the digestive tract. That, plus the fact that it can cause toxicity that harms the kidneys, caused it to fall out of favor in human use and is now primarily used to treat dogs suffering from staph infections or skin issues.
While it's no longer a good choice as an antibiotic for people, researchers from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Maryland found that it has another potent power. In animal tests, the team demonstrated that the administration of low doses of cephaloridine caused E. coli gut bacteria to begin pumping out colanic acid. This acid is created by gut bacteria as a protective mechanism and previous research from the team has shown it to extend the life of roundworms and fruit flies.
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