Researchers from the Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology of the Center for Pathophysiology, Infectology and Immunology at MedUni Vienna, led by Hannes Stockinger, have discovered a hitherto unknown function of the protein lactoferrin, which is primarily found in breast milk. The main finding of the study, which has now been published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry is that lactoferrin inhibits certain processes in the dissolution of blood clots and in cell migration. Says Stockinger: “This discovery could be useful in developing new therapeutic agents for cancer and also for treating certain bacterial infections.”