Exciting discovery from Nicotiana alata leading to a new class of antibiotics
A new scientific discovery, has lead to the development of a new class of antibiotics and meet the challenge of rising antibiotic resistance. Researchers Dr Mark Hulett and Dr Marc Kvansakul from La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science has made major discovery with the flowers of an ornamental tobacco plant. Their discovery is that peptide NaD1 found in the flowers of Nicotiana alata has infection-killing qualities. Dr. Hullett said that "Infectious diseases are a major global health threat, which accounts to more than one in eight deaths and mortality rates” "Antibiotic resistance will eventually lead to the depletion of effective long-term drug options. It's crucial that we develop new antibiotic treatments." Dr. Hulett and Dr. Kvansakul along with their team have shown in atomic detail how tobacco plant peptide can target and effectively destroy the micro-organism responsible for a infection. The peptide has the ability to perforate the outer layer