Reduce dandruff by targeting a fungus known as M. furfur

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Llamas May Help Humans Fight Dandruff

Llama Antibody May Lead to Shampoos That Are More Effective Against

Dandruff

By Warner

WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

on Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Jan. 17, 2005 - An antibody found in llamas may help humans fight

dandruff flakes, a new study suggests.

Researchers say adding llama antibodies to shampoo may offer a new

way to reduce dandruff by targeting a fungus known as M. furfur

implicated in dandruff and other skin diseases. Antibodies are

disease-fighting compounds formed by the immune system in response

to infection.

In their study, researchers isolated single-domain antibody

fragments called VHHs that were stable in shampoo and may inhibit M.

furfur. Previous studies have shown that increased turnover of the

fungus M. furfur is associated with dandruff formation, and

reductions in their number can decrease dandruff severity.

The results of the study appear in the January issue of Applied and

Environmental Microbiology.

Current dandruff shampoos contain antifungal agents that broadly

target this fungus, but in this approach researchers used an

antibody that acts on a specific protein on the surface of the

fungus that slows the growth of the fungus.

In the study, researchers vaccinated a llama with M. furfur three

times over five weeks. They then isolated antibodies in the blood

formed by the animal's immune system to fight the fungus.

Next, they tested the antibodies to determine which would remain

effective in fighting the fungus when combined with a shampoo

solution. They found many VHHs were stable when mixed the harsh

chemicals found in shampoo and continued to be active against M.

furfur.

Researchers say the next step will be to test whether shampoos

containing VHHs can inhibit the growth of M. furfur on the human

scalp and therefore reduce dandruff.