A TINY frog that lives in the rainforests of North Queensland could provide humans with a cure for deadly bacterial diseases.
Nuclear scientists are searching for ways to fight
antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as golden staph, which kills
thousands of hospital patients each year.
They have found
chemicals secreted from the skin of two amphibians, the Australian
green-eyed tree frog and the growling grass frog, can form a defence to
the bacteria.
The cutting-edge research is being carried out at
the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation's nuclear
reactor at Lucas Heights in Sydney.
Melbourne University Professor
Frances Separovic, who is leading the project team, said they had
characterised several small proteins - known as peptides - from the skin
glands of the frogs, which had been found to host defence compounds
with strong antibacterial activity.
The peptides work by attacking
the membranes of unwanted bacteria found on the frogs' skin, killing
them before they can present a danger to the frog.
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| HOPE: Researchers hope frogs can help unlock a cure for deadly bacterial diseases. Litoria genimaculata |
"By
understanding their 3D structure and mechanism of action at the
molecular level, we may be able to increase their antibiotic potency or
antimicrobial potency and specificity," Prof Separovic said.
The
nuclear reactor is being used to analyse, on a molecular level, how and
why peptides from the frog skin secretions work, and how well they can
kill bacterial cells.
"Given that we don't want them to attack
healthy human or frog cells, we also need to establish whether and how
these antimicrobial peptides are selective for bacterial cells," Prof
Separovic said.
It is hope the research will be completed by the
end of the year, providing a blueprint for scientists to develop new
drugs that can combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The two frog
species have been selected for the project, as the skin secretions from
the animals are known to protect the frogs against a broad range of
bacteria.
The green-eyed tree frog, also known as the tapping
green-eyed frog, lives in rainforests in North Queensland, often found
near rocky creeks.
The species gets its name from the brilliant
green colour over the brow of each eye. The frog grows to about 7cm
long. It has adapted its appearance to blend in with the moss-covered
forests, with most having a brownish-green body with rust-coloured
blotches that match the lichen-covered rocks of the creeks and streams
of its habitat.
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