Lactoferrin, a protein in breast milk that protects infants against harmful bacteria, is being studied as a potential new tool to curb the spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, according to research published in Chemical Science.
A team from the National Physical Laboratory in the U.K. identified a tiny fragment of the protein and re-engineered it to produce "virus-like capsules" that are able to target bacteria but leave other cells unaffected.
"Antimicrobial resistance is an increasing public health threat which requires a strong and coordinated response," Jason Crain, director of research at NPL, said in a statement. "This work demonstrates the power of combining physics and engineering principles with innovative measurement methods to create new strategies for tackling the problem. It is exactly the sort of high priority problem that the National Physical Laboratory should be active in addressing in collaboration with others."