Llama Antibodies May Help Prevent Dandruff

The addition of llama antibodies to shampoo could be a new strategy for fighting dandruff, say European researchers.
Their findings appear in the January 2005 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.


Malassezia furfur, a fungus frequently found on the human scalp, is often associated with the formation of dandruff. Current
methods of treatment consist of shampoos containing antifungal compounds.


In the study researchers immunized a llama with M. furfur three times over a period of five weeks. They then screened blood
samples and found antibodies that targeted a specific protein on the surface of the organism even in the harsh chemical
conditions of shampoo.


"Here we describe a novel approach for preventing the formation of dandruff by inhibition of M. furfur with antibodies," say
the researchers.


(E. Dolk, M. van der Vaart, D.L. Hulsik, G. Vriend, H. de Haard, S. Spinelli, C. Cambillau, L. Frenken, T. Verrips. 2004.
Isolation of llama antibody fragments for prevention of dandruff by phage display in shampoo. Applied and Environmental
Microbiology, 71. 1: 442-450.)


Tips from the journals of the American Society for Microbiology

Contact: Jim Sliwa


jsliwaasmusa


American Society for Microbiology