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Bacteria in disguise cause problems for cystic fibrosis sufferers
August 31, 2001Bacteria that cause infections in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients avoid detection by changing their appearance according to Cardiff University researchers speaking today, Thursday 13 September 2001, at the bi-annual meeting of the Society for General Microbiology at the University of East Anglia.
"Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, which cause life-threatening infections in 70% of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, repeatedly adapt themselves during long-term infection. They produce large quantities of slime and change the structure of their cell wall to avoid detection and escape the lethal effects of antibiotics " says Dr Eshwar Mahenthiralingam of the School of Biosciences at Cardiff University, UK.
CF patients also face life-threatening infections caused by Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteria, which are extremely difficult to identify and control. B. cepacia complex bacteria account for approximately 6% of infections in CF patients nationally, although some treatment centres have many more infected patients. They are intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics and infections caused by these bugs are rarely cured.
"We have found that the B. cepacia complex is made up of at least seven closely related species, initially called genomovars I to VII, which cause infections of varying severity. Genomovar III appears to be the most pathogenic species isolated from CF patients 70% of all B. cepacia complex infections and it also has the ability to replace infections caused by other genomovars. If we can correctly identify which species is causing an infection then this will have implications for treatment." Says Dr Mahenthiralingam.
Dr Mahenthiralingam says, "Both P. aeruginosa and B. cepacia complex bacteria are highly resistant to antibiotics and by dissecting their biology we are learning new information about how bacteria resist killing by these therapies. This research will reduce the impact of hospital acquired infections on the health service and also greatly inform the CF community on the risks associated with infection by these bacterial species."
Society for General Microbiology
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Atomic structure of the mammalian 'fatty acid factory' determined
Mammalian fatty acid synthase is one of the most complex molecular synthetic machines in human cells. It is also a promising target for the development of anti-cancer and anti-obesity drugs and the treatment of metabolic disorders.
Bad sign for global warming: Thawing permafrost holds vast carbon pool
Permafrost blanketing the northern hemisphere contains more than twice the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, making it a potentially mammoth contributor to global climate change depending on how quickly it thaws.
'Superbug' breast infections controllable in nursing mothers, researchers find
Many nursing mothers who have been hospitalized for breast abscesses are afflicted with the "superbug" methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, but according to new research by UT Southwestern Medical Center physicians, conservative treatment can deal with the problem.
Arteries from distinct regions of the body have unique immune functions
Human arteries play distinct roles in the immune system depending on their anatomical location, researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have discovered.
New research challenges long-held assumptions of flightless bird evolution
Large flightless birds of the southern continents - African ostriches, Australian emus and cassowaries, South American rheas and the New Zealand kiwi - do not share a common flightless ancestor as once believed.
Nature inspires new highly specific drugs and organic products
The best place to seek novel compounds for pharmaceutical drugs, alternative energy sources, and a host of industrial applications, is within natural systems that have evolved over millions of years.
Innate immune system targets asthma-linked fungus for destruction
A new study shows that the innate immune system of humans is capable of killing a fungus linked to airway inflammation, chronic rhinosinusitis and bronchial asthma.
Scientists develop new method to investigate origin of life
Scientists at Penn State have developed a new computational method that they say will help them to understand how life began on Earth.
Stick with simple antibiotics for pneumonia to avoid super bugs, says researcher
Australian hospitals should avoid prescribing expensive broad-spectrum antibiotics for pneumonia to avoid the development of more drug-resistant super bugs, according to a University of Melbourne study.
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