Silk Insect Could Yield Anti-fungal and Anti-bacterial Drugs



A research team from West Bengal has discovered that the wild insect called Antheraea mylitta which yields Indian tasar silk harbours a wide variety of proteins and peptides. These molecules possess potent anti-fungal and anti-bacterial activity to combat microbial attack, claims the research team. The researchers have found that the insect secrets a compound called AmFPI-1 that inhibits the activity of a fungal enzyme (secreted by Aspergillus oryzae) protecting against fungal infection. The study results will help design specific inhibitors against fungal enzymes. The findings of the research have been published in the April 2009 issue of Journal of Structural Biology.