Not that locals need another reason to eat raw oysters but researchers have recently discovered a heath benefit within the bivalve mollusks. A 2025 study revealed that antimicrobial proteins found in the blood (hemolymph) of Sydney rock oysters can eliminate specific bacteria and slightly increase the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics. That may sound a bit 'gross', but they then discovered that when combined with standard antibiotics, these oyster proteins enhanced antibiotic effectiveness by up to 32 times. 

This could be beneficial to drug-resistant superbugs. The term “drug-resistant superbug” is somewhat non-specific; however, it refers to bacteria that have developed the ability to endure antibiotics that once effectively eliminated or halted their growth, according to Angelo Falcone, MD, an integrative medicine physician and founder of Dignity Integrative Health and Wellness.

The Australian study published in PLOS One also found Researchers also confirmed that these proteins were not toxic to human cells, suggesting they may be safe for potential therapeutic use, says Daniel Rhoads, MD, chair of the College of American Pathologists Microbiology Committee. 

Another way to think about it is that drug-resistant superbugs evolve through the survival of the fittest. “When we use antibiotics, we kill susceptible bacteria, but bacteria with random mutations that provide even slight protection can survive,” Falcone explains. “These survivors then multiply, passing their resistance genes to offspring, and what accelerates this natural process is our overuse and misuse of antibiotics, such as using antibiotics when they're not needed, not finishing prescribed courses, or using broad-spectrum antibiotics when targeted ones would suffice.”

While the study was from another country, it might be useful to explain why you have to order another dozen inn the future.