Potato yields clue to preventing diseases

The potato may have provided scientists with an answer to the growing problem of drug-resistant bugs.

The potato may have provided scientists with an answer to the growing problem of drug-resistant bugs.

A water extract from the potato has helped stop the bug that causes tooth decay from clinging to teeth. It has also prevented the attachment of E.coli, which causes urinary tract infections, to cells.

Researchers have identified a compound in the extract that inhibits bacterial adhesion. It is called polyphenol oxidase, or PPO, and is a plant enzyme responsible for the browning of some fruits and vegetables.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as the hospital infection MRSA, now represent a major health threat. Compounds such as PPO could help overcome antibiotic resistance, as they do not kill drug-sensitive bacteria. The new strategy involves preventing the bacteria attaching to the cells they infect.

The findings were reported last week at the 100th general meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, in Los Angeles. Dr Marjorie Cowan, of the Miami University in Ohio, said: "Nearly all micro-organisms must secure themselves to their target tissue in order to cause disease. Preventing or disrupting the attachment of micro-organisms... could provide a gentler approach to curing or preventing disease."