home   genetic news   bioinformatics   biotechnology   literature   journals   ethics   positions   events   sitemap
 
  HUM-MOLGEN -> Genetic News | search  
 

Invasion Of The Flesh-Eaters

 
  December, 6 2001 19:40
your information resource in human molecular genetics
 
     
Group A streptococci (GAS) are the infamous bacteria responsible for causing the ubiquitous 'Strep. throat'. They are also the same 'flesh-eating bugs' that cause necrotizing fasciitis, a rare but difficult-to-treat infection that destroys soft tissues and can be fatal.

Although what causes this common and usually harmless bug to turn nasty is a mystery, Colette Cywes and Michael Wessels of Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, report in a letter to this week's (Nature, Vol. 414, No. 6864, 06 Dec 2001) how the bug might bore through tissue.

GAS are coated with molecules mimicking a natural signalling compound, which instructs cells to let go of their neighbours and move around. These molecules are crucial in allowing the bacteria to push through normally impenetrable tissues and cause infection, the duo show.

Because this molecular coating is also crucial for GAS to attach to tissues in the throat, the work may lead to new treatments for Strep. throat, as well as answer questions about what causes necrotizing fasciitis.

CONTACT:

Michael Wessels
tel +1 617 525 0086
e-mail mwessels@channing.harvard.edu

(C) Nature press release.


Message posted by: Trevor M. D'Souza

print this article mail this article
Latest News
Variants Associated with Pediatric Allergic Disorder

Mutations in PHF6 Found in T-Cell Leukemia

Genetic Risk Variant for Urinary Bladder Cancer

Antibody Has Therapeutic Effect on Mice with ALS

Regulating P53 Activity in Cancer Cells

Anti-RNA Therapy Counters Breast Cancer Spread

Mitochondrial DNA Diversity

The Power of RNA Sequencing

‘Pro-Ageing' Therapy for Cancer?

Niche Genetics Influence Leukaemia

Molecular Biology: Clinical Promise for RNA Interference

Chemoprevention Cocktail for Colon Cancer

more news ...

Generated by News Editor 2.0 by Kai Garlipp
WWW: Kai Garlipp, Frank S. Zollmann.
7.0 © 1995-2023 HUM-MOLGEN. All rights reserved. Liability, Copyright and Imprint.