A new potential germ killer has recently been found in a small freshwater hydra, a protein produced by the hydra systematically eliminates most antibiotic-resistant bacteria
As more and more bacteria develop resistance to standard antibiotics, scientists are more determined to continue exploring new sources of drugs. This cat-and-mouse game between nature and pharmaceutical manufacturers is advancing another step in this hidden war.
A new potential germicide has recently been found in a small freshwater hydra that systematically eliminates a wide variety of drug-resistant bacteria.
The Hydramacin-1 protein produced by the hydra, and identified by a team of researchers at Kiel University in Germany, is different from any other protein. This protein is unlike any other antibacterial protein known to man, except for two antimicrobial proteins found in another ancient animal - the leech.
Hydramacin has proven its effectiveness in a series of laboratory experiments. This protein is capable of eliminating a wide range of bacteria from the gram-positive (+g) and gram-negative (g-) staining group, including a series of dangerous bacteria such as Klebsiella-Oxytoca that require clinical isolation and are a common cause of drug-resistant infection originating in hospitals.
The researchers discovered that attaching the Hydramacin to a bacterium gathers around bacteria from the area and subsequently disrupts the bacterial membrane.
The team was able to determine the three-dimensional structure of Hydramacin-1 and this revealed to them that the protein with the highest similarity came from a super protein family found in scorpion venom.
In the Journal of Chemical Biology, the researchers proposed that the Hydramacin and the two leeches' proteins form a new family known as Macins.
Notice of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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Don't use it, it gives me palpitations and a headache
The encore turn for Hydra =:)