Studies have discovered that there is an existing protein in the tobacco leaf that contains significant potential to combat deadly infectious diseases. This new discovery could lead to the development of a new class of antibiotics and face the challenge of antibiotic resistance.
Mark Hulett with Marc Kvansakul and his team at La Trobe University in Melbourne, had shown that the NaD1 peptide, found in the flowers of the Nicotiana alata tobacco ornamental plant, has qualities that fight bacteria.
According to Hulett, "infectious diseases represent more than one in eight deaths and mortality rates are expected to skyrocket in the next 30 years."
Also, resistance to antibiotics at the current rate will eventually lead, according to the scientist, to the depletion of effective long-term drug options. "It is important that we develop new treatments with antibiotics," said Hulett.
In addition, scientists have demonstrated with atomic details how the peptide of the tobacco plant can destroy the microorganism responsible for a dangerous fungal infection.
The peptide pierces the outer layer in the form of a parachute of cells of Candida albicans (a fungus that causes candidiasis), tearing them apart, causing them to explode and die. "They act differently from existing antibiotics and allow us to explore new ways to fight infections," the Australian experts explained.
This "exciting" discovery could be used to develop a new class of antimicrobial therapy and treat various infectious diseases, including staphylococcus aureus, resistant to multiple medications, and infections such as HIV, Zika virus and dengue, etc.