New studies may bring slug-made glues closer to use in medicine

Scientists have disclosed new steps toward using natural adhesives made by the dusky Arion slug (Arion subfuscus) in medical applications such as in closing skin wounds and reducing scarring.

An Arion land slug in Canada. Photo: Ryan Hodnett/Wikinews

When threatened, the dusky Arion slug secretes an unusual glue, making itself a difficult target for predators. This glue remains both sticky and flexible and works even when the surface the slug is on is wet. Previous studies have shown that, unlike many artificial adhesives, Arion slug glue is non-toxic to mammalian tissue.

Typical sutures like staples and stitches often lead to scarring and create holes in the skin that could increase the chance of infection after surgery. Understanding the roles of adhesive proteins in the slug glue would aid in the creation of a medical adhesive that can move and stretch yet still retain its strength and adhesiveness.

Scientists observed eleven proteins found only in slug glue and used DNA recombination to produce usable amounts of each of these proteins. Specifically, they produced complementary DNA sequences (cDNA) for each protein, which are stretches of DNA with all the pieces not necessary for producing the protein removed.

They spliced these into circular DNA sequences called plasmids, which she inserted into bacteria, whose natural cellular machinery began to produce the proteins in quantity. They analyzed the three-dimensional structures that the protein molecules form with each other and with other substances that make them work.

Scientists evaluated glue from the dusky Arion slug by focusing on the chemical bonds within the glue and the way they affect the glue's deformability. They found that slight changes in these chemical bonds could alter the strength of the slug glue.

This knowledge can guide the development of an organic synthetic adhesive that would reduce the risk of infection and scarring compared to stitches and staples and could be applied rapidly and simply. (Wikinews)

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