The problem of hospital infection, severe disease caused by antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus bacteria, entails major costs and great suffering. Group A streptococcus bacteria, also called meat-eating killer bacteria, are another growing problem. A team of Lund scientists has now developed a substance called Cystapep, which seems to work on bacteria that nothing else seems to be able to knock out.

If Cystapep delivers what it promises, this is nothing short of sensational. Sweden is in a better position than other countries when it comes to antibiotic resistance, but in other parts of the world dangerous strains of bacteria have developed resistance to most of the antibiotics doctors have in their arsenal, and the problem is growing worse every year in Sweden as well.

The name Cystapep is based on the fact that the new substance is a peptide derivative based on a larger protein called cystatin. Cystatin occurs in various forms in the body and is part of our natural protection against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The Lund researchers Aftab Jasir and Claes Schaln, medical microbiology, and Anders Grubb, clinical chemistry, have collaborated with a team of Polish scientists to synthesize a peptide based on the inhibitory centre of human cystatin C.

"The substance has been shown to be effective against infectious staphylococci, streptococci, enterococci, and pneumococci, which include many dangerous and more or less antibiotic-resistant strains. On the other hand, the body's own flora of bacteria is not affected, which is good news," says Aftab Jasir.

Cystapep has also been shown to attack polio and herpes viruses. The fact that one and the same substance works against not only infectious bacteria but also viruses is unique. And the substance seems to have its very own modus operandi that bacteria cannot easily defend themselves against. The Lund team has tried to induce resistance to Cystapep by creating mutations, a proced
'"/>

Contact: Ingela Bjrck
ingela.bjorck@info.lu.se
46-46-222-76-46
Swedish Research Council
10-Dec-2003

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Non-lethal weapons focus of research study
2. UCLA-VA study names India dietary staple as potential Alzheimers weapon
3. Imperial to lead the way in developing vaccines against bio-weapons
4. New weapon may help flush stealth stashes of HIV in cells
5. Drugs may not be best weapon against teen migraines, study finds
6. Nobel Laureate creates potent anticancer weapons
7. Medicine, international law and weapons
8. New self-help technology set to combat eating disorders
9. Columbia researchers receive $3 million to combat genetic killer of infants & toddlers
10. Mobile surgical units prevent delays in treating wounded combat patients in Iraq
11. Exercise combats metabolic syndrome in older adults