Articles tagged with Bacterial Proteins
Scientists at EPFL have engineered aerolysin, a bacterium-produced toxin, to form narrow pores that can sense biomolecules with high resolution. This discovery opens new opportunities for sequencing biomolecules, such as DNA and proteins, and could lead to breakthroughs in gene sequencing and diagnostics.
University of Exeter researchers have identified a gene in Clostridioides difficile responsible for binding to the gut, offering a promising new approach to developing a vaccine. Mice vaccinated with this protein generated specific antibodies and were less susceptible to C. diff infection.
Researchers at NYU discovered that a single amino acid change in E. coli's EmrE transporter protein dramatically alters its structure and function, reducing bacteria's resistance to drugs. This finding may have implications for combating antibiotic resistance and drug development.
Researchers at Indiana University have discovered a previously unknown role of protein pili in helping bacteria reel in DNA. The study's findings may help inform strategies to stop bacterial infection and combat antibiotic resistance, which is estimated to cause 10 million deaths by 2050.
A new cell-material feedback platform enables versatile production, analysis, and purification of diverse proteins and protein complexes on demand. The technology utilizes microbial swarmbots with stimulus-sensitive polymeric microcapsules to facilitate efficient production and analysis.
Researchers developed a bacterial genetic oscillator that records changes in microbiome growth patterns, providing an objective measurement of time. The system uses an oscillating gene circuit to track cell divisions and analyze bacterial growth rates, offering insights into the dynamics of the gut microbiome.
Scientists have elucidated the structure of the ClpX-ClpP proteolytic complex, a key to developing innovative antibiotics that target bacterial degradation processes. The complex's unique mechanism of action has considerable innovation potential in the fight against pathogenic bacteria.
MIT researchers developed engineered bacteriophages that can kill different strains of E. coli by making targeted mutations in a viral protein. The new approach creates a large number of phage variants and tests them against resistant strains, showing promise for overcoming multidrug resistance.
Researchers at Duke University use machine learning to model complex biological circuits, achieving speeds of hours instead of years or months. By training a deep neural network on large datasets, they uncover patterns and interactions between variables that were previously impossible to discover.
Researchers discovered a novel weapon in bacteria arsenal that mimics common antibiotics, potentially filling gap left by antibiotic resistance. The 'toxic arrowhead' VgrG2b targets cell envelope and prevents division, causing cells to bulge and explode.
Researchers discovered a tripartite relationship between sponges, bacteria, and bacteriophages, where viruses protect bacteria from being digested. The study found that sponge viruses have unique functions and may enable symbiotic co-existence between hosts and microbes.
Biochemists at Nagoya University have found a way to selectively kill Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria using a hijacked haem acquisition system that targets other dangerous bacteria, providing an alternative treatment strategy for resistant infections.
Researchers at Heidelberg University discover bacterial Rqc2 protein plays central role in quality control, eliminating toxic protein chains. This finding suggests the mechanism must have existed in the last universal common ancestor several billion years ago.
Biomedical engineers create biomanufacturing platform using bursting bacteria and shrinking capsules to produce targeted proteins, enabling flexible and efficient production of diverse biologics. The new technology simplifies the creation of protein complexes and offers an easy way to produce multiple proteins simultaneously.
A new study identifies key transport proteins that facilitate the uptake of human milk oligosaccharides, crucial for developing a healthy infant gut microbiota. The researchers have established a framework to map the best sugars in mother's milk on the menu of infant health-beneficial gut bacteria.
Researchers at the University of Oregon discovered that Helicobacter pylori uses a protein called TlpD to sense bleach and swim toward it. The bacteria Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli can use similar proteins to detect bleach in their environment.
A vaccine that protects against a worrisome superbug has been successfully tested in mice, providing hope for a solution to the growing global health threat of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The vaccine, developed using genetically modified E. coli, proved highly effective in preventing severe disease and death.
Scientists at the Universities of Bayreuth and Bonn have found a way to regulate RNA molecule activity using blue light, enabling on/off control of gene expression. This breakthrough discovery is the basis for optoribogenetics, a new field of research.
Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a potential treatment for citrus greening, a devastating disease affecting the US citrus industry. By studying a symbiotic bacterium, they found 130 compounds that can inhibit the spread of the disease without harming beneficial bacteria.
Researchers reveal E. coli's ability to detect low oxygen levels in the large intestine, allowing it to establish infection and produce harmful toxins. The discovery could lead to prevention strategies by blocking oxygen sensing, potentially limiting infection and avoiding drug resistance.
Researchers found that blood coagulation factors VII, IX, and X can hydrolyze lipopolysaccharides on the bacterial cell envelope, effectively killing Gram-negative bacteria. These proteins may offer new strategies for combating multi-drug resistant superbugs.
Researchers found tens of thousands of new protein families, likely involved in intercellular communication and warfare, among others. These small proteins may serve as new antibiotics or drugs for human use.
Researchers found that cryptic genetic variation enables bacteria to evolve green fluorescent proteins with increased diversity. The discovery could improve directed evolution techniques for developing new biomolecules for medical and other applications.
Researchers optimized bacteria to produce proteins with unconventional amino acids, a significant breakthrough in synthetic biology. The study demonstrates the potential of semi-synthetic organisms to create new life forms with expanded genetic codes.
Researchers at Uppsala University have elucidated the anatomy of a standby site and its requirements in bacterial protein synthesis. The study revealed that ribosomal protein S1 guides the ribosome to a single-stranded region and a short RNA hairpin, enabling translation through downstream RNA structure.
Researchers develop Nanobodies that target the Sap S-layer protein on the surface of the anthrax bacterium, slowing its growth and killing it. The study provides hope for a new treatment option to combat this deadly disease.
Researchers at the University of Toronto discovered a protein called HRI that can sense and respond to misfolded proteins in all mammalian cells. This finding opens promising research avenues for neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and ALS.
Researchers at KAUST have created a biohybrid material that performs well as an electrocatalyst, enabling the production of carbon-free fuels and green-energy applications. The material outperforms expensive metal-based OER catalysts in terms of efficiency and is environmentally friendly.
Researchers reverse-engineered a primordial protein and inserted it into a living bacterium, successfully powering its metabolism, growth, and reproduction. The discovery sheds light on the origins of metabolism and has implications for synthetic biology and bioelectronics.
Researchers at UC Riverside have identified a neurotoxin produced by bacteria that kills Anopheles mosquitoes, which spread malaria. The discovery could lead to the development of a chemical-free insecticide and reduce the risk of resistance.
A study by Boston Children's Hospital scientists reveals that the absence of certain beneficial bacteria in the human gut makes children susceptible to food allergies. Transplanting these bacteria into mice with food allergies prevents the disease and even reverses it, suggesting a new approach to treatments.
Chlamydia trachomatis produces a protein called IncA that facilitates the fusion of bacterial compartments, leading to increased disease pathogenicity. The discovery provides a new tool for researchers to study key disease processes caused by bacteria.
Researchers found 87 genes in E. coli bacteria that protect against plasma treatment, including a heat shock protein Hsp33. The study suggests that genetic changes can increase plasma resistance in bacteria.
Researchers have discovered a cellular component called peptidoglycan that contributes to Lyme arthritis, a debilitating condition. The presence of peptidoglycan in synovial fluid may explain why some people experience symptoms despite no obvious infection, and could lead to new treatments.
Researchers discovered that Rqc2 marks protein fragments with a flag, allowing proteases to cut up bad fragments. The study sheds light on the ancient mechanism used by bacteria to recycle incomplete proteins, which has implications for understanding life's origins and developing new treatments for diseases.
Researchers observe DNA transmission between resistant and sensitive Escherichia coli bacteria, discovering a generalist efflux pump facilitating minimal protein synthesis activity. This study opens new avenues for understanding bacterial resistance mechanisms and potential therapeutic applications.
A study published in Cell Host & Microbe identifies a previously unknown bacteria-killing protein RELMα that requires dietary vitamin A to work. The researchers found that mice fed a diet deficient in vitamin A made no RELMα, and those missing the protein were more susceptible to infection.
Scientists at Indiana University found that bacteria can evolve new genes from phages, a discovery that could help advance research on bacterial resistance. The study shows bacteria's ability to transform an implement of war into a tool to create life.
Researchers use atomic force microscopy to track the formation of deadly holes in bacterial surfaces, discovering a bottleneck that prevents harm to human cells. The study provides insight into how the immune system kills bacteria and may guide the development of new therapies harnessing the immune system against bacterial infections.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have discovered a way to target both of a bacteria's defenses with one hit, weakening its ability to develop antibiotic resistance. By interfering with a specific type of tRNA molecule, the team was able to make bacteria more susceptible to antibiotics.
Researchers from La Trobe University and the University of Queensland discovered how UpaB protein in bacteria sticks to human body parts, enabling new anti-microbial development opportunities. The study provides fundamental science that could inform future solutions to the global problem of antibiotic resistance.
Researchers discovered that certain bacteria use viruses to identify and kill rival bacteria for resources. The discovery has implications for synthetic biology and medicine, where understanding bacterial competition could lead to breakthroughs in treating infectious diseases.
A new protein-based sensor can detect tiny amounts of lanthanides, a crucial component of smartphone screens and electronics. The sensor uses a shape change to bind to the metal, allowing for rapid and inexpensive detection at the location of sampling.
The discovery of channelrhodopsin-2 reveals two parallel paths in the activation of the ion channel by light, allowing for optimized applications in optogenetics. This understanding could lead to treatments for blind individuals and patients with agitated paralysis in Parkinson's disease.
Researchers at North Carolina State University discovered that key cell-killing proteins can block certain bacterial infections like Listeria without harming the host cells. The RIPK3 and MLKL proteins recognize the bacteria's chemical composition and bind to it, preventing its spread while keeping the host cells alive.
Scientists have discovered how key proteins produced in bacteria and insects can either promote or inhibit the formation of ice. The study reveals that these proteins can be designed to nucleate ice at specific temperatures, enabling more accurate weather forecasts and potentially solving water scarcity issues. This breakthrough has si...
Researchers have discovered a novel biosynthesis pathway for aryl polyene pigments in bacteria, produced via a unique complex of proteins. These pigments exhibit anti-oxidative properties similar to carotenoids but are formed differently.
Brown University researchers capture the first 'snapshot' of two proteins involved in delivering a bacterial stress-response master regulator to the cell's recycling machinery. The discovery sheds light on the importance of the regulation for antibiotic resistance, disease-causing bacteria, and biofilm development.
Geobacter bacteria project metal-containing heme filaments called nanowires to dispose of excess electrons in oxygen-free environments. This discovery solves the mystery of how nanowires facilitate environmental cleanup and potential applications for building new materials and sensors.
Scientists have developed a method to manufacture spider silk and other difficult-to-make proteins using engineered bacteria. The production of these proteins could be useful during future space missions, such as producing bullet-proof fabric or surgical sutures.
Researchers found that host cells use autophagy to target specific bacterial proteins for recycling, which could be used by bacteria to escape clearance. Enhancing autophagy through activators may help fight bacterial infections and develop new therapies.
Researchers discovered a new mechanism by which influenza A viruses alter host immune systems, making them more susceptible to deadly bacterial infections. The PDZ-binding motif regulates cytokine production, controlling the severity of secondary bacterial infections.
Researchers at Osaka University have identified a key protein, RamR, that enables Salmonella bacteria to sense and respond to bile acids in the gut. This allows the bacteria to survive in a highly acidic environment by pumping out toxins and adapting to the conditions.
Scientists at UIC identified alternative start sites within bacterial genes, finding over 100 E. coli genes with multiple protein-coding potential. This discovery opens new avenues for research into antibiotic action and pathogenicity.
Researchers discovered instances of epistasis, a phenomenon where two changes produce a behavior different from individual changes. This finding could impact future drug delivery and therapeutic strategies by learning the rules of virus scaffold assembly.
A study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet found that very premature babies carry anti-viral antibodies transferred from the mother, suggesting a previously underappreciated source of protection. The analysis also revealed that the protection offered by these antibodies lasts different durations depending on the virus.
Researchers at UC San Diego have found a new mechanism that allows bacteria to survive antibiotics by controlling magnesium ion uptake. This discovery could lead to new treatments for infectious diseases and boost the potency of existing antibiotic drugs.
Researchers have created a technique to quickly measure protein vibrations, enabling faster analysis of proteins' microscopic movements. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient biological research and the development of new biotechnologies.
Scientists have developed a microscopy method that directly observes bacterial filaments, revealing a new mechanism by which bacteria interact with surfaces. The study shows that type IV pili movements are coordinated through sequential control of pilus extension and retraction, enabling efficient movement across surfaces.
Researchers from the Center for Genomic Regulation developed a method to predict and classify these tiny proteins using bioinformatics tools, discovering they account for 16% of bacterial genomes. The small proteins play a crucial role in antimicrobial responses, microbiota balance, and may be overlooked in complex organisms.