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Search and Destroy: Newly Identified Gut Protein Kills Bacteria

Researchers have discovered a new antibiotic protein that appears to kill certain types of bacteria in the intestine. Their results are published Jan. 27 in the online version of the journal Nature Immunology and are slated for print publication in March. “These findings were completely unexpected,” said the study’s lead scientist. “We initially thought that this protein might be involved in blood vessel formation. What we discovered, though, is that it’s a potent killer of bacteria.”