Articles tagged with Bacterial Proteins
Researchers found that certain gut bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, metabolize gluten differently than beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus. This variation can either stimulate inflammation in individuals with genetic risk or detoxify gluten, potentially influencing celiac disease development.
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute have determined a previously unknown structure of proteins key to making terpenoids, a family of molecules encompassing successful cancer treatments. The study provides insight into how Nature makes these compounds and may lead to engineering structural diversity in bacteria.
Scientists have discovered a possible explanation for the high prevalence of Russian tuberculosis strains by analyzing their protein and genome features. The study found that these strains produce more proteins producing long-chain fatty acids and less proteins destroying them, making them more effective at evading the immune system.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg discovered the inner workings of phytochrome proteins, which inform plant cells whether it's day or night. The findings enable modification of these proteins to increase crop yield and engineer light-sensitive proteins for controlling organisms by light.
Harvard Medical School scientists have identified a new family of proteins that virtually all bacteria use to build and maintain their cell walls. The discovery of this new family, called SEDS proteins, reveals potential targets for much-needed therapies that target the cell wall as a way to kill harmful bacteria.
A new study reveals that fusobacteria use a special sugar-binding protein to stick to developing colorectal polyps and cancers. This mechanism may inform ways of blocking fusobacteria from homing in on tumors, and could potentially prevent colorectal cancer progression.
Scientists have revealed the molecular steps that turn on bacteria's pathogenic genes by visualizing DNA supercoiling and HU protein interactions. The study found that supercoiling can trigger gene expression in single-celled prokaryotes, opening up new avenues for developing drugs to prevent or treat bacterial infections.
Researchers found that PGLYRPs can inhibit chlamydia infections by targeting the bacteria's stress response system. The study confirmed that PGLYRP solutions reduced the number of chlamydial inclusions by 10 times, and improved understanding of potential antichlamydial drug targets.
Researchers at the University of Missouri discovered that a manufactured form of lactoferrin can help protect premature infants from staph infections. The study found that giving very-low-birth-weight premature infants lactoferrin virtually eliminated germs responsible for staph infection.
Researchers at UMass Medical School developed a Salmonella 'nanobug' mimic to deliver the protein SipA, which naturally reduces a well-known drug-resistant molecule found in many types of cancer cells. The nanobug dramatically boosts tumor sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs, shrinking colon and breast cancer tumors in mice.
Researchers at UC San Diego and MIT developed a synthetic biology strategy to produce cancer drugs in mice while limiting bacterial population growth. The approach enables controlled release of drugs at tumor sites, reducing tumor size by combining chemotherapy with gene products produced by bacteria.
A study published in the Journal of Bacteriology found that two genes, ArsS and ArsR, play a crucial role in regulating biofilm formation in H. pylori. The researchers created strains with mutations in these genes and observed that they formed thicker and more rapid biofilms.
Researchers at CWRU discovered how bacterial resistance enzymes spread and avoid destruction by anchoring themselves in cell membranes. This mechanism allows bacteria like NDM-1 to resist destruction triggered by low zinc levels, enabling their widespread dissemination and antibiotic resistance.
Researchers have elucidated the mechanism by which the sensor protein KdpD adjusts potassium uptake in bacteria, employing a dual strategy to monitor both internal and external potassium concentrations. This allows for precise control of intracellular potassium levels, vital for bacterial survival.
A team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has identified dozens of genes that contribute to the rigidity and integrity of bacterial cell envelopes. These findings have significant implications for developing new antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria, which are notoriously difficult to treat.
Researchers discovered that bacteria in the human gut have specialized functions and are not always beneficial. The study found that certain bacteria can produce unhealthy compounds when fermenting proteins, contradicting previous assumptions about the link between diversity and host health.
Researchers successfully treat deadly MRSA infection in animals using the combination of antibiotic TXA709 with cefdinir, reducing potential resistance and side effects. The new treatment approach aims to develop a new class of antibiotics to combat rising antibiotic-resistant infections.
A new method enables rapid isolation and concentration of infectious bacteria from complex clinical samples, accelerating bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing. This breakthrough uses an engineered pathogen-binding protein to capture live pathogens from joint fluids, allowing for faster and more accurate diagno...
Researchers reconstructed ancient bacterial enzymes and found that they were sophisticated and functional, contrary to the widely-held theory. This discovery suggests that biological evolution progressed rapidly in its early stages, with enzymes becoming fully developed within a 500-million-year period.
Researchers at Newcastle University have identified a new essential sequence within bacterial genomes required for DNA replication, dubbed the DnaA-trio. This discovery sheds light on a fundamental biological process shared among all living organisms and opens doors to studying enigmatic replication origin elements in higher organisms.
A new vaccine identifies strains by proteins attached to the surface of pneumococcus, promoting an immune response that targets specific threats. The vaccine is 100% effective in defending against more than 12 strains and may one day stamp out pneumonia, meningitis, and other illnesses.
David Low's innovative project targets enteric pathogen-specific T2 bacteriophage to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded $100,000 GCE grant will support his research on a new approach using bacteriophage targeting essential outer membrane protein BamA.
Biologists have uncovered a key protein in the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum that enables it to home in on bacteria, similar to human white blood cells. This discovery provides new insights into immune cell directionality and may lead to effective treatments for cancer and other diseases.
Researchers at OIST Graduate University discovered how E. coli bacteria disassemble their protein complex after cell division, finding a controlled order similar to assembly, and identifying an inner and outer ring of proteins with unique interactions.
Researchers at George Mason University have successfully developed an early-detection urine test for Lyme disease that accurately identifies the bacteria protein, even in patients with active cases. The test has shown promise for diagnosing other diseases, including Ebola, malaria, and tuberculosis.
A study found that pathogenic bacteria use Opa proteins to bind human CEACAM proteins on mucosal cells, making them stickier and less likely to detach. This prevents exfoliation, allowing the bacteria to gain extra time to colonize or penetrate the mucosa.
Rice University researchers have developed a new photoreversible tool using photosynthetic bacterial proteins, allowing for faster and more precise control of gene expression
Researchers at Washington State University and Harvard University have discovered a critical mechanism that enables bacteria to efficiently infect the gut. The 'type III secretion system' directs bacterial traffic, controlling whether bacteria become trapped inside vacuoles or break out into cell fluid.
A new proteomics method has been developed to measure the carbon uptake of specific marine bacterioplankton taxa, revealing metabolic patterns and taxonomic identification. The technique uses stable isotopic probing to analyze proteins from seawater samples, providing information on substrate incorporation and enzyme activity.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum successfully taught bacteria to swim by combining various RNA modules in a new way. The team used riboswitches and RNA thermometers to control the bacterium's behavior and responded to temperature and metabolic products.
Researchers at Duke University discovered a genetic circuit in bacteria that creates spatial patterns with proportional scaling, similar to those seen in animals. This finding suggests that timing cues may play a key role in pattern formation and development in other organisms.
Cyanobacteria use internal protein 'machines' to efficiently convert carbon dioxide into sugar during photosynthesis. Researchers developed a method to analyze bacterial cells and found that carboxysomes can adjust their positioning in response to environmental changes.
Scientists at Michigan State University have discovered a microbial protein fiber that transports charges at high speeds, exceeding current manmade nanotechnologies. The fibers are biodegradable, biocompatible, and potentially cheaper to produce, making them suitable for medical sensors and electronic devices.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have solved a 25-year-old question about how bacteria resist certain antibiotics. The study provides direct evidence that ABC-F proteins 'protect' the bacterial ribosome, allowing it to continue making proteins despite antibiotic presence.
Researchers at Imperial College London have visualized bacteria motors with electron microscopes, revealing differences in swimming power and torque. These findings explain why some bacteria can swim through thick mucus while others cannot.
A new study reveals that a more primitive form of photosynthesis evolved in much older bacteria than previously thought, dating back to around 3.5 billion years ago. This type of photosynthesis does not produce oxygen and uses molecules such as hydrogen or iron as fuel.
Researchers at Uppsala University quantify selective forces shaping bacterial genomes, discovering that small changes in fitness can be selected against. They find that changing even a single codon reduces the fitness of bacteria by 0.01 procent per generation.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that maternal bacterial infections trigger abnormal proliferation of neurons in the fetal brain, leading to changes in cognitive functioning and increased risk of autism. Treatment with antibiotics like ampicillin may exacerbate these effects.
A new class of 'BH3-mimetic' drugs has shown promise in treating Legionella-infected cells by targeting the BCL-XL protein. This research could lead to new treatments for various bacterial infections, even those resistant to antibiotics.
E. coli bacteria attach to the surface of the urinary tract via protein FimH, binding more tightly under flow conditions. This discovery could lead to development of FimH antagonists, reducing antibiotic use and resistance.
Duke University researchers have engineered microbes that can't run away from home; those that do will quickly die without protective proteins produced by their peers. The system could be used to reliably program colonies of bacteria to respond to changes in their surrounding environment, such as releasing specific molecules on cue.
A study by Dr. Fraser Scott and his team discovered a bacteria-killing protein called cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) that helps the pancreas regenerate and produce insulin. The research could lead to novel treatments for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Scientists have found a way to control the sensitivity of coiled protein polymers called R bodies, making them unfurl at higher or lower pH levels. The proteins can burst open 60% of bacterial cells in acidic conditions, offering potential use in delivering molecules inside living systems and targeting biotechnology applications.
New research from Uppsala University shows that organisms can quickly compensate for the negative effects of synonymous mutations by introducing new mutations. This study provides insights into why these mutations are detrimental to bacterial growth and survival.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a versatile polymer coating with covalent bonds to various materials, preventing biofouling in biomedical diagnostics and medical technology. The 'Swiss army knife' molecule offers simple dip-and-rinse application and withstands harsh conditions.
Researchers have developed a new experimental test that can detect signs of Lyme disease near the time of infection. The approach uses vesicle-like particles derived from the cell wall of the bacteria to provide a unique indicator of infection.
Wyss Institute researchers create protein actuators that can mechanically puncture cell membranes and release beneficial molecules. The system, inspired by bacterial R bodies, uses pH levels to extend and retract the nanoneedles, enabling precise control over cell delivery.
Researchers found that vinegar suppressed inflammation-inducing proteins while improving the gut's bacterial makeup in mice with ulcerative colitis. The study also showed that treatment lowered levels of proteins that induce damaging inflammation, suggesting a potential therapeutic effect.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have successfully reengineered a building block of a geometric nanocompartment, allowing for the transfer of electrons and enabling new functionalities. The introduction of iron-sulfur clusters expands the potential of nanocompartments as custom-made chemical factories.
Researchers identify RimK as a crucial regulator of bacterial movement, which is essential for initiating infections. Disabling this protein significantly reduces the ability of bacteria to infect plants and humans, offering a new target for anti-infective drugs.
The completed genetic blueprint of the bedbug reveals key findings on mechanisms for resisting pesticides and mitigating the effects of rough sexual insemination practices. The genome sequence shows genes that encode enzymes and proteins to fight insecticides and reduce traumatic effects of copulation.
Bacteria use specific mechanisms to avoid toxic substances like antibiotics during colonization, driven by the action of flagella and chemoreceptors. The discovery reveals a crucial molecular balance between RecA and CheW proteins that enables bacteria to stop swarming movement in areas with high antibiotic concentrations.
Researchers at DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed a molecule that mimics natural vitamins in bacteria, allowing for easier tracking and measurement of nutrient use. The discovery provides insight into the inner workings of living microbes crucial to energy production and carbon cycles.
Researchers at the University of Vermont discovered a new strategy for bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics by adopting an 'all-for-one' approach. This allows individual cells to assume high levels of resistance while others avoid extra work, enabling colonies to hedge their bets and persist in infections like cystic fibrosis.
A team of molecular biologists has found a gene that encodes a protein recognizing cell membranes surrounding symbiotic bacteria, directing other proteins to harvest nutrients. This discovery reveals the fundamental mechanisms behind plant-microbe interactions, with implications for future agricultural advances.
Inorganic mercury exposure is linked to damaged cell processes, causing more damage at lower concentrations than organic mercury. The study found that inorganic mercury efficiently removes iron from proteins, disrupting key cellular functions.
Researchers have visualized the self-assembly of protein facets in bacterial microcompartments, revealing a honeycomb pattern and selective arrangement. The study provides new clues for designing novel compartments or nanoscale architectures, potentially aiding in toxin removal or product production.
A team of researchers has successfully inserted the gene for Bt into a harmless bacterium, which can be used to deliver the protein to people afflicted with roundworms through dairy products or probiotics. This could provide an inexpensive treatment option for millions of people worldwide infected with intestinal nematodes and roundworms.
Researchers identified a key protein involved in bacterial sugar coating and found a compound that blocks its action, offering hope for new antibiotics. The study's findings may lead to the development of more effective anti-microbials.
Researchers have successfully mapped the structural map of a tiny cellular nanomachine called diacylglycerol kinase, which plays a critical role in bacterial cell wall synthesis. The nanomachine's evolution is an extraordinary feat of nature, and its molecular blueprint has shed new light on how it performs its cellular duties.