MRSA Notes

Scientists have found another weak spot in the biology of bacteria in the folate production system. Bacteria can produce their own folate, which is crucial in cell division, while humans cannot - so targeting this process in the bacteria should result in a drug that is not harmful to humans, but prevents the reproduction of bacteria. Sounds good, eh?

There is a downside:

“The problem, of course, is finding the enzymes within that process you want to target,” said Valérie de Crécy-Lagard, UF microbiologist and lead author on the research, which appears in the Dec. 8 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

There are millions of chemical reactions that drive the functioning of a cell, she said. Finding the right one is akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

But the bright spot is found in comparative genomics:

For years, researchers around the world have been filling a computer database of bacterial genetic knowledge. By digitally comparing the genetic makeup of more than 100 bacteria, the researchers were able to deduce which gene was responsible for many of the enzymes that produce folate—and thus were able to track down a new enzyme to target for an antibacterial attack. [source]

So be on the lookout for a new class of superbug-fighting antibiotics in the future. For more about genetics and how it affects you every day, don’t miss my good friend, Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei’s Genetics & Health!

Education, MRSA, MRSA Drugs, Research and Development, Superbugs

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