"Artificial virus" will be developed that will start attacking and destroy if it adheres to bacteria

A research team of scientists such as UK University College London (UCL) announced that it succeeded in synthesizing a fine protein "artificial virus" about 20 nanometers in size that is aggressive against bacteria did.

BACTERIOPHAGES OF THE URINARY MICROBIOME
http://jb.asm.org/content/early/2018/01/10/JB.00738-17

Synthetic 'virus' to kill bacteria
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0118/230118-synthetic-virus

A research team developed by UCL and the British National Physical Laboratory (NPL) developed a protein structure with a hollow structure of about 20 nanometers in size. This tissue mimics the outer structure of the naturally occurring virus and it is possible to destroy its cell membrane if it adheres to the surface of bacteria larger than itself.

According to Hasan Alkassem, a member of the research team, "When artificial virus breaks down to the surface of the bacteria several seconds later, the artificial virus will fall apart and the contents will leak out rapidly by puncturing the cell membrane. Then, it seemed that the bacteria were killed "and it has been confirmed that they have clear aggression against bacteria.

What is expected by this finding is the development of a treatment for "antibiotic resistant bacteria" resistant bacteria. It is said that 700,000 people suffer from diseases caused by resistant bacteria in the world, and it is a big problem that there is no effective treatment. This "artificial virus" has the possibility to cast a big stone on this problem. Alex Yon, a member of the research team said, "The mechanism by which an artificial virus acts means that bacteria are unlikely to be resistant to artificial viruses, and directly to specific cells in bacteria It has an advantage over the conventional technology which does not exert its effect without reaching, "he says the advantage of artificial virus.

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Furthermore, this artificial virus has the ability to penetrate into the cell like normal virus, while not affecting the somatic cells of human beings It also shows the possibility that it can be used for future medical treatment It is said that. It is regarded as a technique that opens the way to deliver medicines directly into cells and to allow treatment on genes to be performed from within cells. Dr. Max Ryadnov, the principal author of the paper and Dr. Max Ryadnov of NPL, commented, "This achievement is aimed at improving substances developed in NPL to realize the methodology of quantitative techniques and the potential of artificial biology field in the industrial / medical field It is also possible to use it as a "tool box" for doing this, and this research will be a long-term and creative solution to realize alternative treatment for infectious diseases that need urgent measures. " I am talking.