New Drug To Fight Against Pneumococcal Disease - Scientists Cripple Critical Pneumococcal Proteins

New Drug To Fight Against Pneumococcal Disease - Scientists Cripple Critical Pneumococcal Proteins
Spain - A new scientific approach of the pneumococcus bacterium could allow the development of a new drug.

The joint study conducted by researchers of Elche (Spain) and Eindhoven (Netherlands) shows that copying the structure of choline in the cell membrane of the bacterium, it is possible to trap the protein binding of choline to the cell and thus making the bacteria less infective.

Phosphocholine, included in an acid used in the composition of the pneumococcal cell membrane, act as a agent host a number of proteins involved in cell division, release of toxins by the bacteria and the adhesion to infected tissues. The choline-binding proteins (CBP), can no longer play their role if they added choline. The cells can then no longer multiply.

Researchers hope to develop a drug based on the copy of the structure of choline-cell disease, choline itself can not be used as medicine. However, the necessary dosage of inhibitor of CBP is within an acceptable range of a pharmaceutical point of view.

1.7 million people die each year from pneumococcal infections such as pneumonia, meningitis and infections of the middle ear. Children and elderly are most affected. The vaccines available that can treat certain types of pneumonia and treatment with antibiotics are available against a resistance of the bacteria.

SOURCE: Adapted from materials provided by Wiley-Blackwell.

DISCOVERIES ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF BACTERIAL INFECTIONS

Discoveries about the origin of bacterial infections
Europe - Thirty-nine proteins that bind to bacterial toxins have been uncovered by researchers from several institutions within the European project "Interaction proteome".

Touching a doorknob may be sufficient to many bacteria to pass through the walls of the body and produce dangerous toxins. Some bacteria are able to introduce their toxins into cells by a system similar to that of a syringe: they then disrupt the signaling pathways of the cell involved, for example, in the process of cell division. The bacteria can then multiply by using the machinery of human cells.

The signaling pathways are controlled by interactions of proteins, previously not well known researchers. Using a new method of research based on mass spectrometry, scientists were able to identify some of these proteins. The toxins use different proteins to attack cells varied. Dr. Selbach, Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin, said that bacteria can tackle a wide variety of cells and thus increase their chances of survival.

This discovery should help develop better treatments against bacterial infections, including the signaling pathways disrupted by toxins.