Molecular Superglue Derived From Flesh-Eating Bacteria Could Aid Cancer Diagnostic Test

Using reverse-engineering, researchers have discovered and synthesized a protein derived from flesh-eating bacteria which can act as a molecular "superglue" for certain medical and research applications. The protein, known as FbaB, used to engineer the superglue is found in Streptococcus pyogenes, a microbe that can cause a rare "flesh-eating" syndrome, in which difficult-to-treat infections destroy body tissue.

"We've turned the tables and put one kind of flesh-eating bacterium to good use," said Mark Howarth, who led the research, according to a statement. "We have engineered one of its proteins into a molecular superglue that adheres so tightly that the set-up we used to measure the strength actually broke. It resists high and low temperatures, acids and other harsh conditions and seals quickly. With this material we can lock proteins together in ways that could underpin better diagnostic tests - for early detection of cancer cells circulating in the blood, for instance. There are many uses in research, such as probing how the forces inside cells change the biochemistry and affect health and disease."

Researchers split the protein into two uneven parts, a small peptide and a larger protein. The compounds can quickly lock together when they come into contact, forming one of the strongest possible chemical bonds. It is possible to attach them to the millions of proteins in the human body and other living things, thus gluing proteins together. 

The latest research on the system found a way to make the protein part of the system smaller. The development will reportedly allow engineers to connect the proteins into new structures.. One new application is to use the technology to a way to detect circulating tumor cells, which are shed in the bloodstream. Worldwide research on circulating tumor cells is underway as the cells are connected to the way cancer spreads throughout the body, which is what makes it so deadly. 

The results were reported at a recent meeting of the American Chemical Society.