Eyes Have the Power to Kill Germs

Proteins in the eye can help keep 
pathogens at bay, finds a new 
UC Berkeley study. (Picture from:
http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/)

When talking about the power of the body to kill germs, the eye is the champion. The findings of scientists of University of California at Berkeley This can lead to the creation of new and cheap antimicrobial drugs.

The results of their research showed the protein in the eye may help keep bacterial pathogens. The team of scientists who focus on researching about the eyes find that there is a small part of the eye keratin protein that plays a key role in ousting the bacteria.

Researchers used a synthetic version of the keratin fragments to test a variety of bacterial pathogens. Synthetic molecules that effectively kills the bacteria that causes flesh-eating disease and strep throat (Streptococcus pyogenes), diarrhea (Escherichia coll), staph infections (Staphylococcus aureus), and infections of the lungs of cystic fibrosis (Pseudomonas aeruginosa).

The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation in October 2012 edition can uncover the source of a new weapon in the fight against disease-causing bacteria. Keratin fragments is relatively easy to make so potentially cheaper drugs.

"Interestingly, keratin is already present in our bodies so it is definitely non-toxic and biocompatible nature," said the study's lead researcher, Suzanne Fleiszig, professor of microbiology and infectious diseases at UC Berkeley School of Optometry. "Natural antimicrobial molecules, identified in previous research, it was toxic or easily disabled by the concentration of salt in our bodies."

Small protein found this team of scientists is a derivative of cytokeratin 6A, one protein filaments that are interconnected and form networks in epithelial cells.

"In the past we only cytokeratin suspect structural proteins, but our study shows that keratin fragments also have the ability to fight microbes," said Connie Tarn, a member of the research team. *** [SCIENCEDAILY | KORAN TEMPO 4016]

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