Title: Breakthrough Discovery: Scientists Find a Way to Disable Infectious Bacteria
Date: October 19, 2023
Author: Cassidy Morrison
Scientists at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas may have uncovered a potential solution to prevent harmful bacteria from causing widespread illness. By interfering with specific gene expression in the shigella bacteria, researchers have discovered a way to block its ability to infect individuals and potentially save millions of lives.
Shigella is responsible for approximately 450,000 infections and 40 deaths annually in the United States alone. Globally, this bacteria causes around 80 million cases of shigellosis, resulting in severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. It also claims the lives of approximately 600,000 people worldwide each year.
The research team focused on a protein called VirB, which triggers the shigella bacteria to become infectious. By manipulating the expression of this protein, the researchers successfully disabled the bacteria, preventing it from causing illness. The implications of this discovery extend beyond shigellosis, with potential applications for other infection-causing bacteria, such as Legionella and Bartonella.
Monika Karney, a lab technician at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a co-author of the study, expressed optimism about the research’s broader impact. She stated, “What we’re seeing with this one protein in this one bacterium – there’s room for it to be applied to other proteins in other clinically relevant bacteria.”
Shigella, primarily transmitted through contaminated food and water, poses a significant threat in developing countries. However, it can also spread easily between individuals by touching surfaces contaminated with the bacteria. In the United States, parents of young children are advised to remain vigilant, as daycare centers serve as breeding grounds for the spread of viruses and bacteria.
While the discovery has yet to translate into a tangible treatment or cure, it represents a significant step forward in preventive measures to combat harmful bacteria. Published in the journal mBio, the researchers’ findings open doors for the development of highly targeted interventions against various types of bacteria.
Dr. Helen Wing, a microbiology professor at UNLV who led the study, emphasized the importance of understanding these proteins and their interactions in disease. This knowledge could ultimately aid in the development of drugs that effectively kill these pathogens.
Further research and testing will be required to validate these findings and explore their potential applications. However, this breakthrough discovery offers hope for the future of bacterial illness prevention, potentially revolutionizing the field of microbiology.