Navigation Links
The tiny difference in the genes of bacteria
Date:6/30/2009

It is based on detecting short, repetitive DNA segments in the genome of bacteria. Every single bacterial strain has such characteristic repeats. "With this method we are able to identify bacterial strains as well as clarify their genetic relationships. Furthermore, we can show how new pathogenic variants develop," says Manfred Hfle, researcher at the HZI. The results have now been published in the current issue of the scientific journal "Applied and Environmental Microbiology". The work is part of the two European Union funded projects "Healthy Water" and "AQUA-chip". Manfred Hfle is coordinator of both projects that deal with various aspects of the microbiological safety of both, drinking water and sea water.

Various bacteria that live in drinking water or sea water can cause severe human diseases. One of them are vibrios: its species Vibrio cholerae is more commonly known as the causative agent of Cholera that spread in Europe until the 20th century. Interestingly, not all Vibrio cholerae strains are pathogenic to humans. Only those strains cause severe diarrhoea known as Cholera that produce a certain bacterial toxin which attacks the intestinal wall. A less known, though also dangerous member of the genus Vibrio, is Vibrio parahaemolyticus. It is a highly contagious pathogenic germ with only a dozen ingested bacteria causing severe diarrhoea. This strain is a threat for the pacific region and reached the east coast of the United States in the 21st century. Since the end of the 1990s, Vibrio parahaemolyticus epidemics have led to thousands of cases of illness in Chile. In the future, due to ballast water or climate change, the species may also gain importance in Europe. As in the Cholera bacterium, various Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains exist with varying infectivity. Distinguishing those strains has been a challenge until now.

The newly developed method makes it now possible to characterize and distinguish hundreds of bacteria str
'/>"/>

Contact: Dr. Bastian Dornbach
bastian.dornbach@helmholtz-hzi.de
0049-531-618-11407
Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. St. Jude influenza survey uncovers key differences between bird flu and human flu
2. Claims of sex-related differences in genetic association studies often not properly validated
3. Genetic differences in clover make one type toxic
4. For honey bee queens, multiple mating makes a difference
5. Analysis of breast and colon cancer genes finds many areas of differences between tumors
6. Worms take the sniff test to reveal sex differences in brain
7. Choosing dry or wet food for cats makes little difference
8. Tiny genetic differences have huge consequences: McGill researchers
9. Sex differences in the brains serotonin system
10. Negligent, attentive mouse mothers show biological differences
11. Defining DNA differences to track and tackle typhoid
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):University of Washington professor garners Avanti Young Investigator Award 2Vermicompost from pig manure grows healthy hibiscus 2'Fighting' IED attacks with SCARE technology 2'Fighting' IED attacks with SCARE technology 3The MedZilla Report for October 2009 Health Care Employment Grows Again in October Even As Clinics Specialty Centers Close 14966 1The MedZilla Report for October 2009 Health Care Employment Grows Again in October Even As Clinics Specialty Centers Close 14966 2The MedZilla Report for October 2009 Health Care Employment Grows Again in October Even As Clinics Specialty Centers Close 14966 3The MedZilla Report for October 2009 Health Care Employment Grows Again in October Even As Clinics Specialty Centers Close 14966 4Senate Votes to Proceed 60 Plus Announces New 9 State TV Campaign Targeted at Senators to Protect Medicare 62049 1Senate Votes to Proceed 60 Plus Announces New 9 State TV Campaign Targeted at Senators to Protect Medicare 62049 2Senate Votes to Proceed 60 Plus Announces New 9 State TV Campaign Targeted at Senators to Protect Medicare 62049 3deCODE genetics Inc Announces Approval of First Day Motions by Bankruptcy Court 14965 1deCODE genetics Inc Announces Approval of First Day Motions by Bankruptcy Court 14965 2deCODE genetics Inc Announces Approval of First Day Motions by Bankruptcy Court 14965 3
Breaking Biology Technology:Life Line Screening Joins the Vascular Disease Foundation as Corporate Partner 2Life Line Screening Joins the Vascular Disease Foundation as Corporate Partner 3Neurocrine Announces Top-Line Results From 703 Study (Tulip PETAL Study) of Elagolix for Treatment of Endometriosis Pain 2Neurocrine Announces Top-Line Results From 703 Study (Tulip PETAL Study) of Elagolix for Treatment of Endometriosis Pain 3Neurocrine Announces Top-Line Results From 703 Study (Tulip PETAL Study) of Elagolix for Treatment of Endometriosis Pain 4Neurocrine Announces Top-Line Results From 703 Study (Tulip PETAL Study) of Elagolix for Treatment of Endometriosis Pain 5Neurocrine Announces Top-Line Results From 703 Study (Tulip PETAL Study) of Elagolix for Treatment of Endometriosis Pain 6Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Licenses Caldolor(R) (ibuprofen) Injection to DB Pharm Korea for Commercialization in South Korea 2Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Licenses Caldolor(R) (ibuprofen) Injection to DB Pharm Korea for Commercialization in South Korea 3Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Licenses Caldolor(R) (ibuprofen) Injection to DB Pharm Korea for Commercialization in South Korea 4Critical Step Toward Commercialization of Pre-Symptomatic Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer Achieved by Arrayit Diagnostics 2Critical Step Toward Commercialization of Pre-Symptomatic Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer Achieved by Arrayit Diagnostics 3Critical Step Toward Commercialization of Pre-Symptomatic Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer Achieved by Arrayit Diagnostics 4