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Enzyme key to fighting E.coli bug Enzyme key to fighting E.coli bug
(about 2 hours later)
Researchers have discovered how a harmful bacterium resists attack by the human body's immune system.Researchers have discovered how a harmful bacterium resists attack by the human body's immune system.
Biochemists at universities in Essex and Sheffield have traced how an enzyme helps E.coli.Biochemists at universities in Essex and Sheffield have traced how an enzyme helps E.coli.
The bug, which can cause serious disease, uses the cytochrome bd enzyme to neutralise nitric acid gas. The bug, which can cause serious disease, uses the cytochrome bd enzyme to neutralise nitric oxide gas.
This acid gas is used to fight off pathogens in the body and the enzyme can replace it with oxygen to encourage E.coli growth. This oxide gas is used to fight off pathogens in the body and the enzyme can replace it with oxygen to encourage E.coli growth.
The biochemists' work has been published in the international journal Nature Chemical Biology.The biochemists' work has been published in the international journal Nature Chemical Biology.
The body's immune system uses high levels of nitric acid gas to attack invading bacteria. The body's immune system uses high levels of nitric oxide gas to attack invading bacteria.
Future research might be able to target cytochrome bd with specific drugs and kill invading bacteria, whilst not harming the human patient Professor Chris CooperFuture research might be able to target cytochrome bd with specific drugs and kill invading bacteria, whilst not harming the human patient Professor Chris Cooper
The E.coli enzyme's resistance seems to relate to its ability to rapidly expel nitric acid gas, allowing its replacement by the oxygen required for bacterial growth. The E.coli enzyme's resistance seems to relate to its ability to rapidly expel nitric oxide gas, allowing its replacement by the oxygen required for bacterial growth.
Professor Chris Cooper, who heads the Essex team, said: "This is an exciting breakthrough.Professor Chris Cooper, who heads the Essex team, said: "This is an exciting breakthrough.
"Now we know there is a lot more to learn about the bacterial side of the equation."Now we know there is a lot more to learn about the bacterial side of the equation.
"We already knew that cytochrome bd levels increased when we attacked bacteria with nitric oxide."We already knew that cytochrome bd levels increased when we attacked bacteria with nitric oxide.
"This study suggests why this adaptation evolved; it could have general implications for bacterial resistance to host attack."This study suggests why this adaptation evolved; it could have general implications for bacterial resistance to host attack.
"As E.coli causes a long list of serious diseases including dysentery, diarrhoea, bladder infections and kidney failure, understanding how it resists attack by the host's immune system is an important discovery."As E.coli causes a long list of serious diseases including dysentery, diarrhoea, bladder infections and kidney failure, understanding how it resists attack by the host's immune system is an important discovery.
"No protein resembling cytochrome bd exists in the human body. Therefore future research might be able to target cytochrome bd with specific drugs and kill invading bacteria, whilst not harming the human patient.""No protein resembling cytochrome bd exists in the human body. Therefore future research might be able to target cytochrome bd with specific drugs and kill invading bacteria, whilst not harming the human patient."