Breakthrough in fight against antimicrobial resistance - from breast milk

A paper published in our journal Chemical Science has made headlines around the world.

Researchers from the National Physical Laboratory and University College London have described a conceptual design for creating artificial antimicrobial viruses from a breast milk protein.

The protein Lactoferrin – which provides antimicrobial protection to infants – tears bacterial membranes apart and makes it impossible for them to evolve defences quickly enough to fight back.

Articles based on the paper have been published in the Times (requires subscription), the Daily Mail, Telegraph and Guardian, as well as being syndicated by the Press Association internationally.

Anne Horan, our life sciences programme manager, says: "Research in the chemical sciences is helping to understand antimicrobial mechanisms, leading to better prevention, diagnosis and treatment of microbial infections.

"This represents an exciting research direction to deliver new therapeutics, paving the way for interesting applications."

In an interview with the Times, Professor Dame Sally Davies, chief medical officer for England, said more needs to be done by governments and experts to tackle the antibiotics issue.

She said: "We need on average 10 new antibiotics every decade. If others do not work with us, it's not something we can sort on our own.

"This is a global problem. I am optimistic about this. The science is crackable. It's doable."