Professors study healing potential of clay

Two Arizona State University professors are trying to dig up new medical cures, studying the use of clay to combat some of the planet's deadliest bacterial infections.

The researchers, geochemist Lynda Williams and microbiologist Shelley Haydel, already have demonstrated that certain clays are able to wipe out microbes responsible for MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), as well as intestinal bugs such as E. coli and salmonella. But they remain stumped as to how it works.

"We know they kill bacteria, but we don't know why," Williams said. "The 'eureka' moment - we haven't had that yet."

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