The human gastrointestinal tract is a site of constant negotiation between the body and the microbial world. New research from MIT reveals that a specific protein, intelectin-2, serves as a sophisticated dual-action guardian of this frontier. By binding to sugar molecules known as galactose, the protein simultaneously reinforces the gut's physical defenses and actively neutralizes invading pathogens.
Led by chemistry professor Laura Kiessling, the research team found that intelectin-2 operates with a rare economy of function. It binds to the galactose found in mucins—the primary components of mucus—to stabilize the protective lining of the intestine. If that barrier is breached, the protein shifts into an offensive role, latching onto the galactose on bacterial membranes. This process traps the microbes and eventually causes them to disintegrate, effectively killing them by disrupting their structural integrity.
The discovery has significant implications for the growing crisis of antibiotic resistance. Intelectin-2 proved effective against formidable pathogens such as *Staphylococcus aureus* and *Klebsiella pneumoniae*, which are increasingly difficult to treat with traditional medicine. Beyond its antimicrobial potential, the protein offers a new avenue for treating chronic conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, where the body’s natural mucosal defenses are often compromised. By restoring these biological levels, clinicians may one day be able to bolster the body’s inherent ability to police its own internal borders.
With reporting from MIT Technology Review.
Source · MIT Technology Review
