What natural antibacterial substance is found in both avian eggs and human saliva ?
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Answer: A. Lysozyme
Explanation
Lysozyme is a natural antimicrobial enzyme found in body fluids and avian egg whites. The enzyme hydrolyzes peptidoglycan cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria, causing lysis. Presence in saliva and tears provides a critical frontline chemical defense against pathogens. Lysozyme breaks beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds between N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetylglucosamine. Alexander Fleming discovered lysozyme before his subsequent discovery of penicillin antibiotics. Avian egg whites contain abundant lysozyme to protect developing embryos from bacterial infections.
Salivary lysozyme contributes to oral hygiene by limiting bacterial colonization on teeth. Tear film lysozyme protects the ocular surface from microbial invasion and infection. Researchers study antimicrobial enzymes to develop novel natural preservatives for food products. Secretozyme is not a recognized standard biochemical term for natural antimicrobial enzymes. Albumin is the major plasma carrier protein regulating osmotic pressure rather than an enzyme. Isozyme refers to different enzyme variants catalyzing the same reaction rather than a specific protein.
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