Navigation Links
Novel toxin receptor discovered for ulcer-causing stomach pathogen
Date:5/23/2008

Helicobacter pylori is one tough bug. It can survive in the human stomach, a zone with a pH somewhere between that of lemon juice and battery acid. Now researchers have discovered how an H. pylori toxin gets into cells, a feat that helps the bacterium live in one of the most inhospitable environments in the body.

Their findings appear this week in PLoS Pathogens, a journal of the Public Library of Science.

About half of the worlds population is infected with H. pylori, although most of them dont know it (most infected people have no obvious symptoms). For a percentage of the infected, however, the bacterium packs a nasty punch. H. pylori is responsible for most human cases of gastric and duodenal ulcers, and long-term infection is a significant risk factor for stomach cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide.

Researchers have tried for years to understand how the bacterium survives in the human stomach, said Steven Blanke, a University of Illinois professor in the department of microbiology and Institute for Genomic Biology and principal investigator on the study.

Paradoxically, although H. pylori is a common resident of the human stomach, the bug is not well adapted by itself to acid, he said. But this pathogen has several clever mechanisms for carving out a niche for itself in the stomach lining.

A protein produced by H. pylori, called vacuolating toxin A (VacA), is an important weapon in its arsenal.

This toxin gets into stomach epithelial cells and immune cells and changes their properties in such a way as to allow H. pylori to first gain a foothold in the stomach, and then survive over the long-term, which may be the entire lifetime of an individual, Blanke said.

H. pylori releases the VacA toxin in order to modify its environment, he said.

How the toxin crossed the membrane to get into these cells was a mystery, however.

Cell membranes are composed prima
'/>"/>

Contact: Diana Yates
diya@illinois.edu
217-333-5802
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Source:Eurekalert  

Page: 1 2 3

Related medicine news :

1. Novel enzyme inhibitor paves way for new cancer drug
2. Abbott to Present Data on Novel Cancer Treatments at American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting
3. Novel mechanisms controlling insulin release and fat deposition discovered
4. Preliminary Results from Phase 2 Genzyme Study Highlight Potential of Novel Oral Compound for Gaucher Disease
5. Discovery of a novel mechanism for the development of colon cancer
6. TorreyPines Therapeutics Licenses Intellectual Property from Johns Hopkins Related to Novel Uses of Glutamate Receptor Antagonists for Prevention, Treatment of Stroke, Heart Attack
7. Latona Announces the Acquistion of Patent Rights and Orphan Drug Status to Novel Late Stage Drug Compound for Juvenile and Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis
8. Scientists identify novel way to prevent cardiac fibrosis
9. Registry unveils real-world data on novel excel stent
10. Researchers sharpen search for new marine medicines with novel techniques
11. Increased hepcidin expression: A novel oncogenic signalling mechanism
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
Novel toxin receptor discovered for ulcer-causing stomach pathogen
Novel toxin receptor discovered for ulcer-causing stomach pathogen
(Date:1/8/2009)...f St. Jude study could shape new treatments for se...RNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Scientists at St. Jude Ch...e effective treatment for bacterial pneumonia foll...lindamycin and azithromycin, which kill bacteria b...ective than a standard first-line treatment with t...
(Date:1/8/2009)...of local dance students will dance to raise money ...OLIS, Jan. 8 , , , WHO: ...l show off their talent in the 3rd annual Dance, ... Dance Arts Centre. The, event wi...r., Participants raise money thr...
(Date:1/8/2009)...SDA, Md., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Chindex Inte... Company"), a leading independent American,provid...the People,s Republic,of China, today announced t...China Conference, to be held in Shanghai on Januar...na Conference will be held at the Pudong Shangri-,...
(Date:1/8/2009)...e Promoted to Principal. Christine Siu and Jason ...NEAPOLIS, SAN FRANCISCO and STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. ... a health care venture capital firm that invests i...oday announced the promotion of three members of i...to Principal. Christine Siu and Jason Brown have ...
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:Study Finds More Effective Treatment for Pneumonia Following Influenza 2Health News:Study Finds More Effective Treatment for Pneumonia Following Influenza 3Health News:Dance With Courage to Benefit Camp Courage 2Health News:Chindex International Inc. Announces Participation in the 2009 UBS Greater China Conference 2Health News:Thomas, McNerney & Partners Promotes Three Members of Its Investment Team 2
...Minister Sharad Pawar was admitted to Escorts Hosp...ning of exhaustion but his condition //is "absolut...tal at around 5 p.m. There is no problem other tha...tors are closely monitoring his condition," Naresh...
...mination of the eyes can diagnose cerebral malaria... malaria, a severe complication where the Plasmodi...ow through the tissues of the brain, is difficult ...unconscious and have a number of other illnesses. ...
...ugar is a definitive indication of diabetes. Resea...onducted a study, which has shown //that diabetes ...d with the disease. Danaei and colleagues analyze... have shown that high blood sugar is the cause of ...
...actors produced in the body have a significant rol...tion of signaling protein called insulin-like grow...he risk of cancer. However, if its concentration i...ke short stature, dementia, osteoporosis etc. New...
Other Medicine News:Health News:Effect Of Growth Factor Signals On Cancer Development 2Health News:Effect Of Growth Factor Signals On Cancer Development 3
(Date:1/7/2009)...JING, Jan. 7 Tiantan Puhua Hospita...m ), the worldwide leader in using stem cells to e... today six new globally experienced additions to i...xpand the hospital,s treatment capabilities for gr...The six senior doctors include the distinguished D...
(Date:1/6/2009)... YORK, Jan. 6 The Micha... million to four industry research teams for pre-c...arkinson,s disease. , , The funding was awarded...Initiative. This program, first launched in 2006,... Parkinson,s research. TDI is part of MJFF,s foc...
(Date:1/5/2009)... DIEGO, Jan. 5 Cylene Pharmaceutic...I clinical trial of its oral CK2 protein kinase in...tumors, Castleman,s disease, or multiple myeloma. ...trial are determination of safety, tolerance and P...ate dose for Phase II trials. In addition, multipl...
(Date:12/29/2008)...HESDA, Md., Dec. 29 The...Research Protection was announced today by Dr. Pet...alth Improvement Institute. , , The winner of ....D. Anderson Cancer Center -- for its best pract...s program provides for 1) enhanced human subjects ...
Breaking Medicine Technology:Stem Cell Treatment Leader Tiantan Puhua Adds Experienced International Medical Staff for Expanding Numbers of Patients 2Stem Cell Treatment Leader Tiantan Puhua Adds Experienced International Medical Staff for Expanding Numbers of Patients 3Michael J. Fox Foundation Awards $2.7 Million to Four Industry Teams for Pre-Clinical Parkinson's Disease Research 2Cylene Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase I Trial With CX-4945 -Breakthrough First-in Class Inhibitor of CK2 2Cylene Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase I Trial With CX-4945 -Breakthrough First-in Class Inhibitor of CK2 32008 Human Research Protection Award Recipients Announced 2Cryoablation continues to show good results for kidney cancer patients 6857 1Cryoablation continues to show good results for kidney cancer patients 6857 2Tooth Decay 3Ci 3EIs 3C i 3E Kids Stuff 6854 1Tooth Decay 3Ci 3EIs 3C i 3E Kids Stuff 6854 2Tooth Decay 3Ci 3EIs 3C i 3E Kids Stuff 6854 3HHS Secretary to Visit Pike Place Market to Discuss Import Safety Preview Trip to China 6852 1HHS Secretary to Visit Pike Place Market to Discuss Import Safety Preview Trip to China 6852 2Rebuilding the evolutionary history of HIV 1 unravels a complex loop 1318 1
... updates progress and upcoming,milestones on its i...re-FirstCall/ - SemBioSys,Genetics Inc. , a biotec...tic proteins for metabolic and cardiovascular dise...porting the,development of plant-derived recombina...gs at the 67th Scientific Sessions of the,American...
...Jun 26, 2007 - Insmed Incorporated,(Nasdaq:INSM), ...ment and approval of drugs for the treatment of me...oted the publication of,promising results of resea...l role of insulin-like growth factor binding prote...g premature infants., IGFBP-3 is a key component o...
Other Medicine Technology:SemBioSys Presents Positive Insulin Data at the American Diabetes,Association Conference 2SemBioSys Presents Positive Insulin Data at the American Diabetes,Association Conference 3SemBioSys Presents Positive Insulin Data at the American Diabetes,Association Conference 4Insmed Inc. Welcomes Studies Linking IGFBP-3 to Prevention of,Blindness in Premature Infants 2Insmed Inc. Welcomes Studies Linking IGFBP-3 to Prevention of,Blindness in Premature Infants 3
Provide 1.5mm protection throughout. Six durable, attractive vinyl coverings are available. Lead glass window factory installed. Larger window available.
Swing-Arm™ Scatter Shield® provides lower extremity protection for personnel close to the tube. 24"Wx32"L lead shield swings 180 along table. Ideal for cardiac cath, special studies, electr
Front Protection with attached Belt Guard, Built-in Back Support; Buckle Closure
Surgical Drop-Off Apron
Medicine Products: