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Protein from breast milk can help against super germs
In many diseases, medics use antibiotics. Due to the excessive, often improper use (also in agriculture), however, there are more and more cases of antibiotic resistance worldwide. For this reason, doctors have long been looking for effective ways to fight resistant bacteria.
Multiresistant bacterial strains on the rise globally
The years of abuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of germs that are resistant to any form of the drug. Multidrug-resistant bacterial strains could trigger a global health crisis, experts warn. Thus, it is not surprising that physicians worldwide are looking for new ways to treat such germs. A particular protein from human breast milk may provide the answer, according to a recent study from University College London (UCL) and the National Physical Laboratory (Teddington, UK). The scientists have published their findings in the journal "Chemical Science".
Harmless diseases in the future again lethal by antibiotic resistance
There are more and more cases of antibiotic resistance around the world. The misuse or improper use of the drugs drove the development of antibiotic-resistant germs worldwide, explain the researchers. If the widespread resistance to antibiotics is not handled responsibly, some infections and curable diseases such as tuberculosis and gonorrhea could become deadly again, experts warn.
"Super protein" found in breast milk
Resistant germs are a real threat today, according to researchers. The danger of such resistant bacterial strains continues to increase. Doctors today would still prescribe antibiotics way too often. When patients with fever go to their family doctor, they often get the appropriate medication prescribed. But that's a big mistake, the doctors warn. Resistances continue to increase as a result. New drugs against resistant germs are therefore urgently needed. The current study has now found that a particular protein from human breast milk may be the key to successfully fighting the resistant germs. Experts have known for a long time that breast milk is essential to the health of babies. Children who are breastfeeding benefited in the first few months from additional protection against disease, explain the doctors.
Protein fragment Lactoferrin destroys fungi, viruses and bacteria
The study was conducted by researchers from University College London and scientists from the National Physical Laboratory. They discovered that the protein fragment lactoferrin destroys fungi, viruses and bacteria. Lactoferrin naturally occurs in breast milk. The protein gives the breast milk its antibiotic properties, explain the physicians. But lactoferrin is more than just an antibiotic, scientists continue. The lactoferrin works so fast that it kills the bacteria in a fraction of a second. The experts therefore hope that resistant bacteria simply lack the time to develop resistance. Lactoferrin has been known to scientists since the 1960s, but only now did they recognize the special properties of the protein. The research team isolated this from breast milk, but the protein is also found in other body fluids, such as our tears, saliva, and nasal secretions, the doctors explain. The next step was to put the highly potent protein into a form that could still destroy viruses and bacteria without harming human host cells.
Researchers developed capsule with impressive capabilities
The team converted the lactoferrin into a virus-like form contained in a capsule. The drug can detect, differentiate and subsequently destroy specific, virulent bacteria, the experts report. "To monitor the activity of the capsules in real time, we developed a high-speed measuring platform with atomic force microscopy," added Hasan Alkassem of UCL. It was a difficult task to visualize the capsules and watch them attack the bacteria. In the end, the special lactoferrin capsules acted as projectiles, destroying the bacterial membranes with the efficiency and speed of projectiles, explain the physicians. So far, however, doctors could not prescribe the drug yet. Lactoferrin needs further investigation and a series of safety reviews to ensure that the protein is not harmful to humans. The research team hopes that one day lactoferrin may help defeat resistant bacteria. In addition, it could also be helpful in the fight against other incurable diseases such as sickle cell anemia, explain the experts. (As)