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Bacterial signaling across biofilm affected by surface structure

The study found that antibiotics slow down biofilm growth and QS molecule production across both strains, with surface type having a significant effect on the non-mucoid strain. The patterned structure was associated with longer latencies before expression of QS molecules were at their peak.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalACS Infectious Diseases·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 4, 2023

'We're not all that different': Study IDs bacterial weapons that could be harnessed to treat human disease

Researchers discovered a cluster of enzymes in bacteria that can be reprogrammed to edit proteins and potentially treat human diseases such as Parkinson's and Crohn's. The study also identified key components of the bacterial immune system, including two on-off switches, that could be targeted therapeutically.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Could a blood pressure hormone work as a treatment for immune dysregulation in sepsis?

A new study published in PNAS found that angiotensin-II, a blood pressure hormone, can enhance bacterial killing functions, increase bacterial clearance, and modulate systemic inflammatory responses in sepsis. The treatment improved immune function without increasing inflammatory injury.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 15, 2022

Bacteria-killing drills get an upgrade

Researchers at Rice University have developed molecular machines that can kill bacteria using visible light, targeting gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. The breakthrough study uses rotors spinning at millions of times per second to break up biofilms and persister cells, making these infections more treatable.

SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 1, 2022

Swirling bacteria mimic Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’

Researchers from Rice University and the University of Wyoming discovered self-organization into circular aggregates in Myxococcus xanthus, a model system for social cooperation. The circular behavior is linked to TraAB protein overexpression, which creates a sticky bond between cells, preventing reversals.

SourceRice University·JournalmSystems·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 13, 2021

Common stomach bacteria is attracted to bleach

Researchers found that Helicobacter pylori is attracted to bleach, relying on a protein called TlpD to navigate to sites of inflammation in the stomach. This attraction enables the bacterium to turn the body's defenses against it and colonize inflamed tissue.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 30, 2019

How plants defend themselves

Researchers at Technical University of Munich discovered that plant cells recognize bacteria through small fatty acid molecules, rather than complex molecular compounds. This finding could lead to breeding or genetically engineering plants with improved immune responses and increased resistance to pathogens.

New strategy may curtail spread of antibiotic resistance

Researchers identify key step in transmission of antibiotic resistance and develop novel strategy to interrupt its spread. By understanding how plasmids interact with bacterial defenses, scientists can design therapies that prevent drug resistance from spreading, safeguarding future treatment options.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 9, 2019

Know your enemy

Gram-negative bacteria build their outer membrane using a glycolipid called lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which can be weakened by preventing its transport. Researchers in the Kahne Lab have developed a quantitative method to monitor LPS transport rates, revealing crucial new details about its molecular mechanisms.

SourceHarvard University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateOct 9, 2018

Enzyme helps bacteria defend themselves against oxidants secreted by immune system

Researchers identified biological substrates of bacterial enzyme Ohr, which enables bacteria to neutralize oxidizing substances released by the defense system of host organisms. The study's findings suggest that Ohr plays a central role in bacterial anti-oxidant defense and offer potential for novel therapeutic approaches.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 20, 2017

Non-inflammatory destructive periodontal disease

Non-inflammatory destructive periodontal disease (NIDPD) is a severe destructive periodontal disease marked by generalized gingival recession and periodontal pocket development. The disease's etiology is linked to endogenous opportunistic bacteria, anatomical factors, occlusion pattern, emotional stress, and mouth breathing condition.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Dentistry Journal·DateApr 20, 2016

A new way to discover DNA modifications

Scientists have developed a systematic approach to discovering unknown DNA modifications, using a combination of bioanalytical chemistry, comparative genomics, and single-molecule real-time sequencing. This approach has led to the discovery of a new epigenetic mark, dADG, which helps bacteria defend their genomes from viral infection.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 29, 2016