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Flesh-eating Bacteria Inspires Highly Selective Instant Adhesive

Posted by samzenpus on from the to-stick-or-not-to-stick dept.

cylonlover writes "A strong and highly selective instant adhesive inspired by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes has been developed by Oxford University researchers. S. pyogenes is a common resident of human throats that is normally kept in check by the body's defenses, but when it gets out of control it can cause diseases ranging from strep throat to toxic shock syndrome or flesh-eating disease. By engineering a protein that is central to S. pyogenes' infectious arsenal, the researchers have developed a new superglue that can't be matched for sticking molecules together and not letting go."

10 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. This could not possibly go wrong. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    No chance this goes badly. None at all.

    1. Re:This could not possibly go wrong. by mwvdlee · · Score: 5, Funny

      Meh... I am rubber you are Streptococcus pyogenes glue, whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you.

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  2. sounds familiar by noh8rz2 · · Score: 5, Funny

    a new superglue that can't be matched for sticking molecules together and not letting go."

    sounds like my mother in law

  3. Have developed? maybe not yet by c0lo · · Score: 5, Informative
    TFA

    The team have given the bonding fragments the moniker "SpyCatcher" and "SpyTag" for the larger and smaller fragments respectively. In biochemical research S. pyogenes is unimaginatively abbreviated "Spy,"...

    An important attribute for one of the world's strongest adhesives is that SpyCatcher and SpyTag won't bond to fingers - they will only stick to each other. Being the basis of an adhesive, however, the adhesive carriers will have to bond to other materials, as SpyTag and SpyCatcher cannot.

    Thus, they found an interesting nano hook-and-loop, but they are yet to solve how to bind the hook and the loop to the parts that need gluing?

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    1. Re:Have developed? maybe not yet by EdIII · · Score: 4, Funny

      You mean the possibility of gluing your roommates ass to the toilet seat forever?

      This lock is stable over time, high temperatures, high forces and with harsh chemical treatment.

      If they can figure out how to get it to bond like that to human skin... game over man. That April Fool's joke will require surgery.

      I can already see new scenes for JackAss 4.

    2. Re:Have developed? maybe not yet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Others are going to get incredibly impatient much sooner.

  4. Meanwhile, in a castle in Eastern Europe by martin-boundary · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hannibal: "Hello, Clarice, nice to have you for dinner. Did you notice the new tapestries? They are made of human flesh. I've been experimenting with this new adhesive you see, to walk on walls and the ceiling. I'm still looking for matching boots."

  5. Re:Prior art anyone? by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 4, Funny

    1. Velcro
    2. self amalgamating rubber tape
    3. Zippers
    4. Gecko tape

    Just a few that spring immediately to mind.

    It sounds like you are planning a kinky S&M sex weekend . . . ?

    Add in Angelina Jolie's leg, and you're all set.

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  6. Re:Prior art anyone? by FrootLoops · · Score: 4, Funny

    I dunno man. With a name that's suspiciously close to combining "taste" and "testicles", you might have to replace "Angelina Jolie" with "Brad Pitt" ;)

  7. Tip of the day by Per+Wigren · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Don't image google for flesh eating bacteria.

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