Navigation Links
Study illuminates how the plague bacteria causes disease

The bacteria responsible for the plague and some forms of food poisoning "paralyze" the immune system of their hosts in an unexpected way, according to a new study in the September 8, 2006 issue of the journal Cell, published by Cell Press.

The researchers found that these bacteria, which belong to the genus Yersinia, harbor a protein that mimics an apparently unrelated mammalian enzyme. That copycat protein blocks host cells' capacity to change shape and move, abilities important for cells of the immune system to track down and "eat" foreign invaders, the researchers explained.

The discovery marks the second way in which this protein, called YpkA, compromises the immune system. Earlier studies suggested that another portion of YpkA--which may have been derived from a mammalian enzyme and later co-opted by Yersinia--has activity that also influences cell shape by a separate, though incompletely understood mechanism.

The findings offer important new insight into the factors that lend Yersinia their ability to spawn disease, the researchers said. The results might also contribute to new strategies for fighting the bug.

"Yersinia injects several virulence factors into its host," said C. Erec Stebbins of Rockefeller University. "If we can discover which ones are critical, we might identify the pathogen's Achilles heel--an attractive target for antibacterial or anti-virulence compounds."

"We were quite excited to see such a critical and unexpected factor in the virulence of Yersinia--a bacteria historically responsible for some of the worst diseases," he added. Although improvements in sanitation have eliminated acute problems from diseases caused by Yersinia, concerns remain about the possibility that an untreatable strain might arise or that the bacteria might come into use as a biological weapon, he said.

Nearly 200 million people are estimated to have died in the plague epidemics that devastated the ancient world, the
'"/>

Source:Cell Press


Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Novel Asthma Study Shows Multiple Genetic Input Required; Single-gene Solution Shot Down
2. Emory Study Tests Bone Marrow Stem Cells to Improve Circulation in Legs
3. UCLA Study Shows One-Third of Drug Ads in Medical Journals Do Not Contain References Supporting Medical Claims
4. Study Demonstrates Gene Expression Microarrays are Comparable and Reproducible
5. Study Links Ebola Outbreaks To Animal Carcasses
6. Breakthrough Microarray-based Technology for the Study of Cancer
7. NYU Study Reveals How Brains Immune System Fights Viral Encephalitis
8. Study finds more than one-third of human genome regulated by RNA
9. Leukemia Drug Breakthrough Study In New England Journal Of Medicine
10. Study identifies predictors of HIV drug resistance in patients beginning triple therapy
11. New Study from Affymetrix Laboratories Points to Changing View of How Genome Works
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: Study illuminates how the plague bacteria causes disease

(Date:5/21/2013)... which alter the way genes function without changing ... in the blood of pregnant women during any ... depression in the weeks after giving birth, and ... , The findings of the small study involving ... journal Molecular Psychiatry . , "Postpartum depression ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... Minnesota Medical School researchers from the Masonic Cancer Center, ... Tumor Program, have developed a new mouse model of ... to discover new genes and gene pathways driving this ... week in the journal Nature Genetics . , ... lab of David Largaespada, Ph.D., professor in the Medical ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... as the lungs of the planet, inhales carbon dioxide as ... to grow parts that eventually fall to the ground to ... , Until recently people believed much of the rain ... deep in the ocean. University of Washington research showed a ... though left open the question of how that was ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Genetic predictors of postpartum depression uncovered by Hopkins researchers 2Genetic predictors of postpartum depression uncovered by Hopkins researchers 3U of M researchers develop model for better testing, targeting of MPNST 2Amazon River exhales virtually all carbon taken up by rain forest 2Amazon River exhales virtually all carbon taken up by rain forest 3
... killer, heart attacks can be effectively treated provided they ... In a study appearing in this month,s Molecular ... protein C (cMyBP-C) as a potential new diagnostic biomarker ... for mild attacks in which traditional diagnostic proteins may ...
... December 2009 - Almost a century after it was ... Notch signalling pathway may come to play an important role ... today in Circulation Research , scientists at the European ... to prove that this signalling pathway targets heart muscle cells ...
... that fertility experts from in and outside of Europe ... intercourse or IVF, Born in the USA! Cost effectiveness ... ethical aspects of gender selection, Bank your future. Insemination ... different regulations, The European tissue directive and IUI, Europe ...
Cached Biology News:Potential new heart attack biomarker uncovered 2From fruit fly wings to heart failure -- why Not(ch)? 2ESHRE announces its campus workshop: 'Artificial Insemination: An Update' 2
(Date:5/21/2013)... Lake, MN (PRWEB) May 21, 2013 The ... trade show display solution for sales and marketing teams looking ... Displays describes the kit as “everything you’ll need to ... Fusion Fabric Display Kit comes with a number of displays ... all-around trade booth 20 feet by 20 feet in size. ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... 21, 2013 Grace Century , ... “game-changing” life science and health related private equity projects, ... its International Project Team. Dergham's expertise in finance and ... depth to Grace Century as it continues to look ... Ms. Dergham holds both an under graduate degree from ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... May 20, 2013 Today, at the American ... , James McGough , M.D., ... the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and ... at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and ... Adolescent Psychopharmacology and ADHD at UCLA, presented the results ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... May 20, 2013 Pacific Biomarkers and Clinigene International ... developers of biosimilars at the 2013 AAPS/ National ... Diego Hotel and Marina , ... the opportunity to speak with company representatives at their ... Cross" on May 21 from 1-2 p.m. in the ...
Breaking Biology Technology:GLM Displays Announces All-in-One Formulate Fusion Fabric Display Kit 2Dalia Dergham Joins Grace Century FZ LLC International Project Team 2Positive Results Reported for Phase I Clinical Trial at UCLA for the Treatment of ADHD in Children Using External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS) 2Positive Results Reported for Phase I Clinical Trial at UCLA for the Treatment of ADHD in Children Using External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS) 3Positive Results Reported for Phase I Clinical Trial at UCLA for the Treatment of ADHD in Children Using External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS) 4Positive Results Reported for Phase I Clinical Trial at UCLA for the Treatment of ADHD in Children Using External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS) 5Pacific Biomarkers and Clinigene International To Announce Laboratory Solutions for Developers of Biosimilars at 2013 AAPS/ National Biotechnology Conference 2
... Milwaukee, Wis. - Johnson Controls , responding ... announced the launch of a new business division to ... company's new renewable technologies unit will focus on geothermal, ... , ,Johnson Controls expects increased demand for ...
... a snapshot of the start-up scene here. I've come ... undercutting the likes of Tivoli and ... management tools for the SME market. , ,Another ... process of decision-making. Instead of yes-or-no decision trees, this ...
... the context of how business is conducted today, how ... mission? , ,Important enough that the expectations bar has ... has transpired in recent years with the number of ... has grown in importance. But IT failures are just ...
Cached Biology Technology:High tech in the U.K. Do the Brits forgo Web 2.0? 2High tech in the U.K. Do the Brits forgo Web 2.0? 3Fusion 2007: CEOs say bar is raised for CIOs 2Fusion 2007: CEOs say bar is raised for CIOs 3Fusion 2007: CEOs say bar is raised for CIOs 4
Mouse monoclonal antibody raised against a partial recombinant ST3GAL2. NCBI Entrez Gene ID = ST3GAL2...
... Sf9 derivative for high-yield protein expression ... derived from a high-yielding clone of Sf9 ... TriEx Insect Cell Medium, these cells are ... by either baculovirus infection or transfection of ...
Mouse monoclonal antibody raised against a partial recombinant VRK2. NCBI Entrez Gene ID = VRK2...
Mouse monoclonal antibody raised against a full length recombinant SCGB3A2. NCBI Entrez Gene ID = SCGB3A2...
Biology Products: