Bacteriophage-produced enzyme destroys anthraz bacteria. (Studies in Humans Needed).

Scientists at Rockefeller University in New York City have made the grade in the subject of defense against anthrax.

An anthrax-specific bacteriophage produces a protein--a lysin--that kills anthrax bacteria by destroying their cell walls from the outside, the researchers said.

A letter by Raymond Schuch, Ph.D., Daniel Nelson, Ph.D., and Vincent A. Fischetti, Ph.D., to Nature details the findings, which identified the enzyme PlyG as the jump-starter that causes bacteriophages specific to Bacillus anthracis to rupture and destroy the bacteria (Nature 418[6900]:884-89, 2002).

Better yet, the anthrax bacteria seem unable to develop resistance to this external attack, they noted.

The investigators explained that "lysins are highly evolved enzymes, modified and improved for high activity and specificity over millennia. ... Lysins are already one of the most ubiquitous and successful antimicrobial agents on Earth."

The PlyG lysin has treatment value, too, the investigators said. Approximately 70% (13 of 19) of mice infected with Bacillus cereus (a close relative of anthrax used for lab work) survived when given PlyG ...