Saving Trees, Saving Lives: Unravelling Bacterial Genomes

Researchers at the University of Warwick and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico unravelled some of the secrets of the genomes of two bacteria, which could one day save orchard trees and assist blood transfusions. The researchers were interested in how Erwinia amylovora  and Streptomyces coelicolor naturally produce a family of chemicals called desferrioxamines.  Desferrioxamine E is produced by Erwinia amylovora, which uses the chemical to damage apple and pear trees and acquire iron from them, causing Fire Blight disease. The bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor produces desferrioxamine B, which is used to treat iron overload in humans – for instance following extensive blood transfusions.

The researchers were able to work out the biochemical pathway the bacteria use to produce desferrioxamines. The researchers purified the enzyme responsible and showed that it could speed up synthesis of the chemicals in a test tube. Harnessing the enzymes may result in much cheaper pharmaceuticals based on desferrioxamine B. Insights on how desferrioxamine E is created by Erwinia amylovora open the way for the creation of new chemical inhibitors that may prevent this bacterium from inflicting Fire Blight on orchards.

The news article is available at http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/bacteria_genome_research/.