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AAP
AAP
Health
Phoebe Loomes

Killer proteins may axe meningitis: study

Professors Shouya Feng, left, and Si Ming Man have discovered a group of bacteria-killing proteins. (PR HANDOUT IMAGE PHOTO) (AAP)

A group of bacteria-killing proteins inside the body could help develop more effective drugs, with the potential to eliminate diseases including meningitis, pneumonia and sepsis, a new study has shown.

A specific group of immune peptide proteins have been shown to kill harmful bacteria by busting them open like an "axe chopping open a watermelon", scientists at the Australian National University told AAP.

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