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Scientists have found an alternative to antibiotics
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Melbourne researchers have discovered the atomic structure of an antibacterial viral protein that could be used as an alternative to antibiotics.
PlyC, a viral protein known as bacteriophage lysin, was first identified in 1925, but was forgotten as a possible treatment for infections after the discovery of antibiotics.
As bacteria become more resistant to antibiotics, researchers from Rockefeller University, the University of Maryland and Monash University's School of Biomedical Sciences have turned to PlyC, a promising target for drug development.
According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, PlyC can kill bacteria that cause a wide range of infections, from pneumonia to streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
After six years of research, scientists from Monash University have made a breakthrough in determining PlyC's atomic structure in an attempt to understand its antibacterial properties.
"Scientists have been trying to decipher the structure of PlyC for over 40 years," said Dr Sheena McGowan. "Understanding what it looks like and how it attacks bacteria has been a huge step forward."
According to Dr McGowan, PlyC is an efficient bacterial killing machine, resembling a flying saucer with two warheads.
"The protein attaches to the surface of the bacteria using eight separate docking sites on one side of the plate. The two warheads chew up the cell surface, penetrating and quickly killing the bacteria," she explained.
Ashley Buckle, an associate professor at Monash University, notes that PlyC was 100 times more effective at killing certain bacteria than any other lysine known to date. It works faster than household bleach.
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