Qures Group CEO Richard Stead talks about the century-long history of hypothiocyanite and lactoperoxidase systems and their modern-day potential in the fight against AMR.
In late 2012, I began an intentional effort to understand how nature protects the most vulnerable entry point of the body. I was looking for a natural antibacterial molecule that I didn’t even know the name of that could prevent pathogens from entering through the eyes and mouth.
Although these places are moist, nutrient-rich, and constantly exposed to the environment, infectious diseases there are surprisingly rare. Something must be working there with a capacity comparable to that of the skin.
What they ended up finding was a molecule they had never encountered before: hypothiocyanite (OSCN⁻). Surprisingly, it was already described a century ago. Although its biology and chemistry had been mapped decades before I began my research, its relevance, power, and potential remain under-recognized.
This article provides a concise historical overview of the discovery of hypothiocyanite and the lactoperoxidase system (LPS) and explains why this natural defense mechanism is so important in an era of rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Nature’s defense: a single broad-spectrum molecule
In medicine, pathogens are classified into three main groups: bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Each requires a different class of drugs, and patients infected with multiple pathogens often require multiple treatments. But nature has a simpler and more sophisticated approach.
Through saliva, tears, respiratory secretions, and milk, a single molecule, hypothiocyanite, is produced exactly when and where it is needed. Provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial protection without harming host tissues.
Natural solutions demonstrate that carefully calibrated chemistry is as powerful as it is safe.
Understanding how hypothiocyanite is made: the lactoperoxidase system (LPS)
Once hypothiocyanite was discovered, the next challenge was to understand how it is produced. The answer lies in natural enzyme systems.
Lactoperoxidase (LPO) + Thiocyanate (SCN⁻) + Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) → Hypothiocyanate (OSCN⁻)
This system operates continuously in secretions that protect mucosal surfaces. The chemical reaction is elegant and efficient and is activated only when a pathogen is present.
We also began exploring whether this inherently highly effective system could be replicated, stabilized, and delivered to sites of infection, particularly those caused by antibiotic-resistant strains. I wondered why such a powerful natural mechanism had not been fully commercialized. We were able to explain this by studying the history of the LPO system.
Historical timeline: From “lactenin” to hypothiocyanite
In 1918, Bjerrum and Kirschner provided the first chemical description of hypothiocyanite (the protonated form of OSCN⁻). This was the earliest known characterization of this molecule, although its biological significance was not yet understood.
Antibacterial era of milk
By 1924, Hansen reported that the bactericidal activity of milk was variable and that it was associated with “oxidases and peroxidases” and later with lactoperoxidase. Between the 1930s and 1950s, milk peroxidase was purified and recognized as a distinct enzyme. It has been revealed that this enzyme is present not only in milk, but also in saliva, tears, and respiratory secretions.
Establishment of lactoperoxidase system
Classic studies from the 1960s demonstrated that combining LPO with SCN⁻ and H₂O₂ inhibited the growth of bacteria, especially streptococci. Although this system was mapped as an antimicrobial mechanism, the exact active substance was not yet fully identified.
Identification of hypothiocyanite as an active antimicrobial agent
By the late 1970s, studies showed that OSCN⁻ was the main product of LPO-mediated thiocyanate oxidation. In the 1980s, OSCN⁻ was detected directly in human saliva. Studies have revealed that its levels increase with stimulation and its antibacterial action is due to the oxidation of microbial sulfhydryl groups. OSCN⁻ has proven effective against a wide range of pathogens. During this period, the LPO-OSCN system was applied in dairy preservation, oral care products, and food safety applications.
Hypothiocyanite in respiratory tract and systemic host defense
Since the 2000s, studies have confirmed that airway epithelial cells express LPO and that OSCN⁻ contributes to normal airway defense. In conditions such as cystic fibrosis, impaired thiocyanate transport reduces OSCN⁻ production, which helps explain chronic infections. Reviews from the 2000s to the 2020s established OSCN⁻ as a host-derived broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antiviral agent.
Modern Relevance: One Health Molecule in the AMR Era
LPS systems have already been recognized by worldwide authorities. WHO and FAO recommend its use in hot climates to keep milk fresh during long transportation. Milk processed with the LPS system reaches the processing plant with its taste, quality, and safety fully maintained. This demonstrates the remarkable property that OSCN⁻ can protect biological fluids without harming them.
why is it important now
As AMR increases, surgeons are increasingly delaying or canceling surgeries due to infection risk. Humanity needs safe and effective antimicrobial systems that pathogens cannot easily resist. Hypothiocyanite, a natural defense molecule already produced by the body, fits this need perfectly.
The role of Cueless Group
Qures has developed a patented platform to generate OSCN⁻ and related molecules and deliver them to places where pathogens cause problems: humans, animals, agriculture, water, and even air.
By replicating natural chemical reactions in a stable and controlled manner, Qures enables targeted applications to reduce microbial loads without damaging host tissues. The goal is to move the world from the current AMR era, where infectious disease resistance to treatment is increasing, to a post-ABR® era, where natural chemistry supports safe and effective medicine. Researchers, clinicians, industry partners and health authorities are invited to join this mission.
conclusion
For more than a century, the scientific literature has uncovered fragments of an elegant, widespread, and inherently safe natural defense system. Hypothiocyanite, produced by the lactoperoxidase system, has been protecting mammals long before modern medicine existed.
Today, this ancient molecule is finding new relevance as antimicrobial resistance threatens global health. Advances in technology allow us to reliably generate OSCN⁻, effectively deliver it, and apply it within a modern One-Health framework.
Science is old.
The timing is new.
And the need is urgent.
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