Cumulonimbus

Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein found in tears, saliva, and other secretions. It sequesters free iron — a vital nutrient for many bacteria — effectively starving them and limiting their growth. Beyond iron deprivation, lactoferrin can disrupt bacterial membranes, trigger immune responses, and even exhibit antiviral activity.

Lactoferrin

Lysozyme is an antimicrobial enzyme found in tears, saliva, and other secretions. It breaks specific bonds — the β(1→4) glycosidic linkages between N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetylglucosamine — in the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls. This precise biochemical cut destabilizes the wall’s architecture, leaving the bacteria vulnerable to osmotic pressure. Unable to hold themselves together, they burst.

Lysozyme

Defensin is a small cationic peptide that disrupts microbial membranes. It binds to the negatively charged surfaces of bacteria and inserts itself into their lipid bilayers, forming pores that make the membrane leaky and dysfunctional. Through this physical rupture, the cell loses its internal balance — and collapses.

Matheus Atella