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