Flesh-eating bacteria inspire highly selective instant adhesive that won't stick to fingers
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SpyTag and SpyCatcher formed by cleavage of the CnaB2 adhesin region of the FbaB binding protein from Streptococcus pyogenes (Spy) (Image: Oxford University)
Formation of a very strong isopeptide chemical bond between a lysine and an aspartic group on the same CnaB2 adhesin region (Image: Oxford University)
A CnaB2 adhesin region in which the Spy isopeptide bond has been formed (Image: Oxford University)
S. pyogenes FbaB protein in its 3D structure (Image: National Center for Biotechnology Information)
Streptococcus pyogenes has inspired a super-strong and selective instant adhesive (Image: Isis Innovation)
A strong and highly selective instant adhesive inspired by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes has been developed by Oxford University researchers. S. pyogenes is a common resident of human throats that is normally kept in check by the body's defenses, but when it gets out of control it can cause diseases ranging from strep throat to toxic shock syndrome or flesh-eating disease. By engineering a protein that is central to S. pyogenes' infectious arsenal, the researchers have developed a new superglue that can't be matched for sticking molecules together and not letting go.
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