In the mind of ordinary people fly is nothing but a disgusting small insect. But insectology professor Wang Mingfu from northeast China's Shenyang Normal University thinks differently.

Research staff from Nankai University and Tianjin University also in recent years focused their efforts on fly studies. They set up experiment bases and by now have successfully separated antimicrobial peptide from the body of fly.

The antimicrobial peptide, said professor Wang on September 15 at the annual academic meeting of China Association for Science and Technology, is of shocking capability in killing microbe and fighting cancer. What's more, the chitosan in fly's body, after being specially processed, could directly inhibit cancer cells, and is also effective in treating gastric diseases and reducing blood sugar.

Studies show that antimicrobial pepide and chitosan, if used in future to treat human diseases, may probably replace the antibiotics widely used today.

(People's Daily September 16, 2003)