Deadly Bacteria May Mimic Human Proteins to Evolve Antibiotic Resistance
June 10, 2011| |
Deadly bacteria may be evolving antibiotic resistance by imitating human proteins, according to a study conducted by Translational Genomics Research Institute. This process is called molecular mimicry. "This mimicry allows the bacteria to evade its host's defense responses, side-stepping our immune system," said Dr. Mia Champion, an Assistant Professor in TGen's Pathogen Genomics Division, and the study's author.
Through genomic sequencing, Champion and colleagues studied a number of methyltransferase protein families that are very similar in otherwise very distantly related human bacterial pathogens. These proteins also were found in hosts such as humans, mouse, and rat. Researchers found methyltransferase in the pathogen Francisella tularensis subspecies tularensis, the most virulent form of Francisella. Just one cell can be lethal, if not treated.
According to the researchers, "the evolution of pathogenic bacterial species from nonpathogenic ancestors is marked by relatively small changes in the overall gene content." Results of such studies could help develop molecular targets in developing new drug treatments.
Read the original article at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110601161127.htm.
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- Hotter Summers Beginning in 20 Years, says Stanford Climate Scientists
- World Food Prices Set to Remain High
- Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions Supports GM Crops in Africa
- Research Partnership to Reduce Crop Loss From Striga Weed in Africa
- G8-Africa Partnership to Revitalize Agriculture
- Uganda Implements Field Trials of GM Bananas
- Farmer Networks Crucial in Adoption of New Technologies
- Scientists Shed Light on Phototrophism in Dicots
- First Company Accreditation by USDA Seed Conditioning Program
- Indonesian Government Officials and Farmers Briefed on Biotech
- ITIF Fellow Updates Indonesians on Biotech Realities in the EU
- South-South Cooperation and Biotech in Asia
- Kenyan National Biosafety Authority CEO Shares Status of the Country's Regulatory System
- Bt Eggplant Vandals in the Philippines to be Prosecuted with Malicious Mischief
- Urgent Call to G20 Global Leaders to Continue Investments in Agricultural Development
- Project to Improve Drought Tolerance of Potatoes
- Photosynthesis and Climate Change
- Experts Search for Sources of E. coli in Farms
-
Research Highlights
- Performance and Milk Composition of Cows Fed with Bollgard II Cottonseeds
- Scientists Investigate the Levels of Control of Stem Borer in Bt maize in Kenya
- Development of a Construct-specific PCR Detection Method of GM Phytase Maize Line
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- Deadly Bacteria May Mimic Human Proteins to Evolve Antibiotic Resistance
- Nanoparticles in Food Crops Need to be Studied
- Biomaterial from Tamarind Seeds Aids Nerve Regeneration
-
Resources
- The Trends and Future of Biotechnology Crops for Insect Pest Control
- New Publication on Pesticides, Latest WHO Ranking, Regulation and Label Claims in India
- GM Crop Production in Canada: Agronomic, Ecological, and Environmental Considerations
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (April 23, 2025)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 16, 2025)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet