A team of scientists and surgeons from Newcastle are
developing a new nasal spray from a marine microbe to help clear chronic
sinusitis.
They are using an enzyme isolated from a marine bacterium
Bacillus licheniformis found on the surface of seaweed which the scientists at
Newcastle University were originally researching for the purpose of cleaning
the hulls of ships.
Publishing today in PLOS ONE, they describe how in many
cases of chronic sinusitis the bacteria form a biofilm, a slimy protective
barrier which can protect them from sprays or antibiotics. In vitro experiments
showed that the enzyme, called NucB dispersed 58% of biofilms.