Initially, this particular lactoperoxidase-catalyzed compound was originally discovered while viewing the specific environment of cystic fibrosis patients' weakened respiratory immune system against bacterial infection.
Symptoms of cystic fibrosis include an inability to secrete sufficient quantities of SCN which results in a shortage of necessary hypothiocyanite, resulting in increasing mucous viscosity, inflammation and bacterial infection in the respiratory tract.
Lactoferrin with hypothiocyanite has been granted orphan drug status by the EMEA and the FDA.
Naturally, the discovery correlated with studies exploring different methods seeking to further gain alternative antibiotics, understanding that most older antibiotics are decreasing in effectiveness against bacteria with antibiotic resistance.
OSCN, which is not an antibiotic, has proved efficacy on superbugs including MRSA reference strains, BCC, Mucoid PA
Schema of LPO/SCN/HO in human lung: