Contributed by: Siddarth David & Dr. Tamhankar
A team from the National Physical
Laboratory in the UK has discovered that a protein found the breast milk can be
used for treating multi-drug resistance bacteria. Lactoferrin with its Y-shaped
structure if induced to form capsules can break the cell membrane of resistant
micro organisms.
Not only did these capsules
successfully bind to bacteria, they were also able to puncture membranes with a
great deal of precision. The findings published describe that the lactoferrin
capsules act like viruses perforating the cell wall of the bacteria based on
their surface proteins. These psuedo-virus capusles can also be used in
treating cancers, muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis.
Though it will be sometime before
they are going to made available, this research shows that it is important to
look at alternative methods of treating bacterial infections apart from
antibiotics. The over reliance on antibiotics has contributed to it unregulated
use and led to antibiotic resistance.
