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Turtle shield

Turtle shield eggs of a marine turtle (Caretta caretta) contain a protein with antibacterial and antiviral properties, claims a research team from Kolkata.

The protein, found in egg white and called turtle egg-white protein, showed strong activity against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, say researchers from the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Bose Institute, and the University of Calcutta. E coli causes urinary tract and intestinal diseases in humans and S typhimurium causes food poisoning and fever.

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