Navigation Links
Breakthrough in the treatment of bacterial meningitis
Date:5/13/2009

It can take just hours after the symptoms appear for someone to die from bacterial meningitis. Now, after years of research, experts at The University of Nottingham have finally discovered how the deadly meningococcal bacteria is able to break through the body's natural defence mechanism and attack the brain.

The discovery could lead to better treatment and vaccines for meningitis and could save the lives of hundreds of children.

Bacterial meningitis in childhood is almost exclusively caused by the respiratory tract pathogens Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. The mechanism used by these lethal germs to break through the blood brain barrier (BBB) has, until now, been unknown.

The team led by Dlawer Ala'Aldeen, Professor of Clinical Microbiology and Head of the Molecular Bacteriology and Immunology Group at the Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, recently discovered that all three pathogens target the same receptor on human cerebrovascular endothelial cells the specialised filtering system that protects our brain from disease enabling the organisms to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Their findings, published today in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, suggest that disruption or modulation of this interaction of bacterial adhesins with the receptor might offer unexpectedly broad protection against bacterial meningitis and may provide a therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of disease.

Professor Ala'Aldeen, who has been studying meningitis and its causes for over 20 years, said: "This is a significant breakthrough which will help us design novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of bacterial meningitis. Identification of the human receptor and bacterial ligands is like identifying a mysterious key and its lock, which will open new doors and pave the way for new discoveries."

The research, carried out in collabo
'/>"/>

Contact: Professor Dlawer Ala-Aldeen
daa@nottingham.ac.uk
44-115-823-0748
University of Nottingham
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. New technique can be breakthrough for early cancer diagnosis
2. Breakthrough research identifies how cells from pigs may cure diabetes
3. Male contraception breakthroughs to be presented, Seattle Sept. 27-28
4. Major genetic breakthrough for ankylosing spondylitis brings treatment hope
5. Oosight microscope enables embryonic stem cell breakthrough
6. Brain-computer link systems on the brink of breakthrough, study finds
7. Breakthrough technology observes synapse in real time, supporting theory of vesicular recycling
8. Medical breakthrough for organ transplants and cardiovascular diseases by Flemish researchers
9. Genetic breakthrough offers promise in tackling kidney tumors
10. University of Alberta researchers report breakthrough in lowering bad cholesterol, fatty acid levels
11. Further breakthroughs for breast cancer patients
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:12/15/2009)... laboratory model organism, but there are currently few ... and blood-forming tissues in this species. A ... resources from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press fills ... step-by-step protocols for the preparation, enumeration, and microscopic ... hematopoietic tissues in the mouse. The laboratory ...
(Date:12/14/2009)... novel antifreeze molecule in a freeze-tolerant Alaska beetle able ... all previously described biological antifreezes that contain protein, this ... It is composed of a sugar and a fatty ... cells of organisms. , "The most exciting part ... whole new kind of antifreeze that may work in ...
(Date:12/14/2009)... date of the proteins in a species of salamander ... how similar regeneration could be induced in humans. ... University-Purdue University Indianapolis and colleagues investigated over three hundred ... of salamander that has the unique natural ability to ... hope that this knowledge will contribute to a better ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):New source of classical techniques for blood-based studies in the laboratory mouse 2Scientists isolate new antifreeze molecule in Alaska beetle 2IUPUI researchers tackle protein mechanisms behind limb regeneration 2NetWitness 28R 29 Hosts Third Annual Ride for the Kids Charity Event 56459 1NetWitness 28R 29 Hosts Third Annual Ride for the Kids Charity Event 56459 2NetWitness 28R 29 Hosts Third Annual Ride for the Kids Charity Event 56459 3NetWitness 28R 29 Hosts Third Annual Ride for the Kids Charity Event 56459 4PBS Special on Health Care Reform 56457 1PBS Special on Health Care Reform 56457 2PBS Special on Health Care Reform 56457 3PBS Special on Health Care Reform 56457 4USA Football Partners With the Andrews Institute 56455 1USA Football Partners With the Andrews Institute 56455 2USA Football Partners With the Andrews Institute 56455 3USA Football Partners With the Andrews Institute 56455 4
... (NCRR), part of the National Institutes of Health, ... estimated $122 million over the next five years ... Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) in seven IDeA-eligible states. ... research resources and expertise, these awards expand research ...
... membership agreement with BioMed Central to cover publication costs ... BioMed Central membership arrangement means that Pfizer will centrally ... funded by Pfizer when they submit a research article ... journals. By funding open access publication fees in this ...
... the overall water resources in river basins were acknowledged ... reduced, say researchers from Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm ... Impact Research. , The challenge of meeting future water ... growing human demands for water may be less bleak ...
Other Biology News:NIH grants $122 million in Institutional Development Awards 2NIH grants $122 million in Institutional Development Awards 3Better water use could reduce future food crises 2Better water use could reduce future food crises 3
(Date:12/15/2009)... LONDON, Dec. 15 Thomson ... Pharma ® has become the first drug pipeline ... and outcome information. This highly anticipated new content ... this month. ,, Thomson Pharma ... from registries, publications, press releases, conferences, and other ...
(Date:12/15/2009)... The Prinz Law Office has announced the launch of ... businesses secure legal services in the current economic climate. ... them the opportunity to finance legal services over a ... requiring any equity in their start-up companies. The ... for fixed montly payment arrangements over 6 to 12 ...
(Date:12/14/2009)... Vermillion, Inc. (Pink Sheets: VRML), ... C. Wallen, Ph.D. Chief Scientific Officer, Senior ... Laboratories, will be joining its board of ... ,, "Bill brings more than 20 ... and biotechnology," said Gail Page, Vermillion Executive ...
(Date:12/14/2009)... Joins with State Biotech Leaders to Develop ... and Development while Boosting Rhode Island,s Growing ... PROVIDENCE, R.I., Dec. 14 Several ... research, medicine and biotechnology gathered today at ... the importance of medical innovation in Rhode ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Thomson Reuters is First to Offer Fully Integrated Pipeline and Clinical Trials 2The Prinz Law Office Launches Innovative New Programs to Aid Cash-Strapped Entrepreneurs and Businesses 2Vermillion Announces Appointment of William C. Wallen, Ph.D. to Board of Directors 2Vermillion Announces Appointment of William C. Wallen, Ph.D. to Board of Directors 3Vermillion Announces Appointment of William C. Wallen, Ph.D. to Board of Directors 4Former Congressman Dick Gephardt Brings National Spotlight to Rhode Island with 'Best and Brightest Forum on Medical Innovation' 2Former Congressman Dick Gephardt Brings National Spotlight to Rhode Island with 'Best and Brightest Forum on Medical Innovation' 3Former Congressman Dick Gephardt Brings National Spotlight to Rhode Island with 'Best and Brightest Forum on Medical Innovation' 4
... Uranus, as viewed in this composite image, by the Keck ... UW-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center. Capitalizing on the ... gained an unprecedented look at the atmosphere of Uranus, providing ... the solar system. , ,A pair of images unveiled on ...
... Project Madison, Wis. The University of ... $2.6 million grant to develop a program that will provide ... Digital Library. , ,NSDL is a concept that the National ... library of STEM science, technology, engineering, and mathematics ...
... pushing sales are great for getting a customers attention as ... or two. , ,Some taglines catch the users attention, but ... and run away. , ,The combined yearly budgets of all ... add up to billions of dollars. Corporations make extraordinary efforts ...
Other Biology Technology:UW space scientists use Keck telescope to study wild weather of Uranus 2UW space scientists use Keck telescope to study wild weather of Uranus 3Scout Project plans online library portal with $2.6 million grant 2Super advertising slogans, and super costs 2Super advertising slogans, and super costs 3Super advertising slogans, and super costs 4
... Dithiothreitol DTT ... INERT GAS. Purity: ≥99% ... metals: Absorbance: (100 ... Soluble in EtOH or H ...
... Genome ChIP-on-chip Microarray is specifically designed ... pombe) DNA binding proteins by pairing ... microarrays. This set delivers robust hybridization ... true binding events and fewer false ...
... of Salmonella genomes has allowed the development ... primer pairs. The S. enterica Typhimurium (strain ... (4,857,432 bp; 4,440 ORFs) and a plasmid, ... from Sigma-Genosys have been designed to amplify ...
... Tecan's own microplate stacker system, offers fast ... Tecan host devices:, , Ultra Evolution , ... SpectraFluor and SpectraFluor Plus , LS Series ... ,By supporting a wide range of detection ...
Biology Products: