Results of Protein Study to Help Fight Superbugs

An international team of researchers have sequenced the molecular structure of a protein called restriction enzymes, which is present in many types of bacteria. These molecules control how fast can bacteria acquire resistance to drugs and eventually develop as superbugs.

The researchers, which include experts from the University of Edinburgh, Universities of Leeds and Portsmouth, focused on Escherichia coli but their findings are also applicable in many other pathogenic bacteria. When bacteria are exposed to antibiotics for long periods of time, they have the tendency to become resistant to drugs. They become resistant to drugs by absorbing DNA from other pathogens that would enable them to block the action of the drugs. Restriction enzymes could slow down or speed up this process.

The researchers were also able to make a model of the enzyme's ability to disable the DNA from another organism, while protecting the bacteria's own genetic material. The ability of restriction enzyme to break genetic material is widely used by scientists in genetic engineering.

"We have known for some time that these enzymes are very effective in protecting bacteria from attack by other species. Now we have painted a picture of how this occurs, which should prove to be a valuable insight in tackling the spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs," said Dr. David Dryden of University Edinburg, who was also the leader of the study.

Read the news release at http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/health/2012/120131-pr-protein-study-superbugs.aspx.