Navigation Links
Flesh-eating bacteria escape body's safety net

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine have discovered that so-called flesh-eating "Strep" bacteria use a specific enzyme to break free of the body's immune system, a finding which could potentially lead to new treatments for serious infections in human patients.

The research, reported in the February 21, 2006 issue of the journal Current Biology, focuses on the major human pathogen group A Streptococcus. Among the most important of all bacterial pathogens, strep is responsible for a wide range of diseases ?from simple throat and skin infections to life-threatening conditions such as necrotizing fasciitis ("flesh-eating disease") and toxic shock syndrome.

"These findings suggest a novel approach to treating serious Strep infections, such as flesh-eating disease, by assisting our body's own defense system," said senior author Victor Nizet, M.D., UCSD associate professor of pediatrics and an infectious diseases physician at Children's Hospital, San Diego.

The UCSD investigators examined the interaction of Strep bacteria with neutrophils, specialized white blood cells that play a front line role in human's immune defense against pathogenic microbes. Recent research by European investigators had shown that neutrophils are particularly effective defenders because they release "nets" composed of DNA and toxic compounds to entrap and kill invading bacteria. In the current study, the UCSD scientists proved that disease-causing Strep release an enzyme that degrades these DNA nets, thereby allowing the organism to escape the neutrophil net and spread in body tissues.

The UCSD team used a molecular genetic approach for their studies, knocking out the gene encoding the DNA-degrading enzyme from a pathogenic Strep strain that was originally isolated from a patient suffering from necrotizing fasciitis.

"Deprived of this single enzyme, the mutant Strep strain was easily killed by human neutrophils"
'"/>

Source:University of California - San Diego


Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Anti-bacterial additive widespread in U.S. waterways
2. A bacterial genome reveals new targets to combat infectious disease
3. Discovery of key proteins shape could lead to improved bacterial pneumonia vaccine
4. Scientists discover that host cell lipids facilitate bacterial movement
5. Family trees of ancient bacteria reveal evolutionary moves
6. Drug-resistant bacteria on poultry products differ by brand
7. Programmable cells: Engineer turns bacteria into living computers
8. NASA links nanobacteria to kidney stones and other diseases
9. Substance protects resilient staph bacteria
10. Physiological effects of reduced gravity on bacteria
11. Anammox bacteria produce nitrogen gas in oceans snackbar
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: Flesh eating bacteria escape body safety net

(Date:5/22/2013)... engineering drastically reduces the time and effort needed ... of biotechnology, scientists are reporting. Published in the ... paves the way for more rapid development of ... other activities. , Keith Shearwin and colleagues explain ... genetic material DNA into a bacterium,s genome is ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... life scientists provide important new details on how climate ... online May 21 in the Journal of Animal ... making accurate predictions and informing policymakers of how species ... , "There is a growing recognition among biologists ... one another, and that this is going to have ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... known for a long time that some creatures evolve ... particularly for plants. But it may be that height ... University and the U. S. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center. ... May in the journal Nature Communications , Lanfear ... , Drawing from a database of global patterns in ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):UCLA life scientists present new insights on climate change and species interactions 2UCLA life scientists present new insights on climate change and species interactions 3UCLA life scientists present new insights on climate change and species interactions 4UCLA life scientists present new insights on climate change and species interactions 5Small but speedy: Short plants live in the evolutionary fast lane 2
... found that pressure from increasing coastal populations, ship and ... critically threatening the health of the Florida Keys ecosystem. ... turtles and coral habitat continue to be at risk ... were released today in the Condition Report 2011 for ...
... the Gulf of Mexico; Pan American biofuels and ... Marcellus shale; sustainable water systems, energy systems, and ... the focus of new grants totaling $8 million ... Engineering and Education for Sustainability (SEES) activity, in ...
... S.C. The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded ... deploy a basinwide network of computerized sensors to monitor ... River. "The Intelligent River research represents a ,big ... university to improve economic conditions through scientific research and ...
Cached Biology News:NOAA releases status on Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary marine resources 2National Science Foundation makes first awards in Sustainability Research Coordination Program 2National Science Foundation makes first awards in Sustainability Research Coordination Program 3National Science Foundation makes first awards in Sustainability Research Coordination Program 4National Science Foundation makes first awards in Sustainability Research Coordination Program 5Clemson's Intelligent River technology to provide real-time monitoring of river 2Clemson's Intelligent River technology to provide real-time monitoring of river 3Clemson's Intelligent River technology to provide real-time monitoring of river 4
(Date:5/23/2013)... 2013 Watlow®, an industry leader ... systems, recently introduced its new catalog, Watlow® Heating ... in designing and manufacturing industrial heaters, Watlow provides ... serve diverse customer needs. , A description of ... beginning of the book. These options allow high ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... 22, 2013 Industry leaders from ... for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Biosurveillance ... place at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center. Held ... 2013 conference on June 18 - 19. ... AdSave, American Elements, Applied Research Associates, ARA, AttaGene, ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... 22, 2013   Oligomerix, Inc. , a ... modifying therapeutics for Alzheimer,s disease (AD) and related ... Series B financing, which includes both issuance of ... represent approximately $2.8M in new investments in the ... the raise. Funding from the ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... Genedata, a leading provider of ... and life science research, today announced AB Enzymes ... its bioinformatics platform for strain genome data management ... AB Enzymes, one of the world’s oldest and ... Genedata Selector accompanied by bioinformatics consulting services. Genedata ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Watlow Introduces Its New Industrial Heater Catalog 2Biodetection Technologies 2013 and Oak Ridge National Lab’s Biosurveillance Symposium to Bring Together Leading Organizations in Alexandria, VA from June 17-19, 2013 2Biodetection Technologies 2013 and Oak Ridge National Lab’s Biosurveillance Symposium to Bring Together Leading Organizations in Alexandria, VA from June 17-19, 2013 3Biodetection Technologies 2013 and Oak Ridge National Lab’s Biosurveillance Symposium to Bring Together Leading Organizations in Alexandria, VA from June 17-19, 2013 4Biodetection Technologies 2013 and Oak Ridge National Lab’s Biosurveillance Symposium to Bring Together Leading Organizations in Alexandria, VA from June 17-19, 2013 5Oligomerix, Inc. Completes Series B Financing 2Oligomerix, Inc. Completes Series B Financing 3AB Enzymes Chooses Genedata Selector for Production Strain Development and Optimization 2AB Enzymes Chooses Genedata Selector for Production Strain Development and Optimization 3AB Enzymes Chooses Genedata Selector for Production Strain Development and Optimization 4
... Ive been hawking the concept of the I-Q Corridor connecting Chicago, ... no surprise I would think its swell that the mayors of ... again, its still something of a shock that it may be ... of Wisconsin history to know that past Milwaukee mayors often looked ...
... piracy were reported in several emerging markets, but 35 ... worldwide in 2005 was illegal, amounting to $34 billion ... by the Business Software Alliance . , ,The ... developers, said improvements in a number of markets indicate ...
... Wis. - An imaging technology that holds the hope ... get its first commercial test at a prominent Boston hospital. ... to hybrid imaging technology, has announced the first installation of ... Hospital . , ,According to GE, the technology is ...
Cached Biology Technology:A (modern) Tale of Two Cities: Milwaukee and Madison inch together 2A (modern) Tale of Two Cities: Milwaukee and Madison inch together 3Software piracy declines in emerging markets 2GE announces first installation of Discovery VCT 2
... coating stabilizer is designed for stabilizing ... and antibodies for immunoassay development. ... during the coating and drying process ... It can also works as a ...
... The TC-3000 is one of the smallest thermal ... a choice of either the 0.5ml (20 samples) ... Features: , Fast heating and cooling rate ... reliability and high performance Fast track programming ...
... anti-freeze environment for enzyme conjugated antibodies and ... viscosity solution at -20C , No ... is convenient , Contains preservatives to ... Protect enzyme conjugates during storage without the ...
A collection of 42 spots with normal tissues from different organs of C57 mice, rat and human....
Biology Products: