AN effective antibiotic to fight the hospital superbug MRSA could have moved closer thanks to a discovery funded by a Swindon research council.

Microbiologists investigating sediments taken from sea beds across the world have found a new species of bacteria called which can kill MRSA.

It is hoped the discovery will lead to the development of a new generation of anti-biotics to fight the bug.

Dr Phil Williamson of the National Environment Research Council in Swindon, which has put £7 million into the research, said scientists studied how thousands of different microbes and bacteria can live in the same place on the ocean floor often in conflict with one another.

"They have developed sophisticated systems of trying to kill off their rivals and by looking at the different compounds they produce, the scientists have identified new bacteria which could provide the next generation of antibiotics."

However Dr Williamson, added: "The ones from the bottom of the sea have not come into contact with disease-forming bacteria (on land), which therefore have not got any resistance."

MRSA can cause fatal infections if it enters the body, and gained a foothold in hospitals because it is immune to antibiotics.

Microbiologists investi-gated the bacterium samples and discovered the anti-MRSA bacterium 300 metres below the Sea of Japan.

Such studies are relatively new because of the cost of deep-sea exploration.

Dr Williamson said more research was needed to see if the MRSA-battling bacteria could be turned into an antibiotic easily.

"They are not quite there yet, but it is exciting," he added.

Professor Alan Bull of the University of Kent, said the find was an exciting discovery.

Ben Payne