Small Molecule Inhibitor Of Cholera Discovered
- Date:
- October 15, 2005
- Source:
- Harvard Medical School
- Summary:
- Just as hurricanes in the Gulf states and Guatemala have raised the risks of cholera outbreaks, researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified a new type of antibiotic against the cholera bacteria. While traditional antibiotics kill bacteria outright by interfering with processes essential for their survival, the new agent blocks production of bacterial proteins that cause the severe diarrhea associated with Vibrio cholerae infection.
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Just as hurricanes in the Gulf states and Guatemala have raised therisks of cholera outbreaks, researchers at Harvard Medical School haveidentified a new type of antibiotic against the cholera bacteria. Whiletraditional antibiotics kill bacteria outright by interfering withprocesses essential for their survival, the new agent blocks productionof bacterial proteins that cause the severe diarrhea associated withVibrio cholerae infection.
"What we have done is made a custom, organism-specific antibioticagainst Vibrio cholerae," said John Mekalanos, the Adele Lehmanprofessor of microbiology and molecular genetics at HMS and the seniorauthor on a report of the work appearing in today's online edition ofScience.
Using a high-throughput screen of 50,000 small molecule candidatecompounds, Mekalanos and lead author Deborah Hung identified severalthat turned off the expression of virulence proteins, factors that helpthe bacteria invade its human host and cause disease. They then showedthat the most promising compound prevented cholera bacteria fromsetting up an infection when introduced into the digestive tract ofmice.
Since most disease-causing organisms use elaborate virulence factorssuch as toxins to do their damage, the new approach should be widelyapplicable. "There is no reason our results cannot be replicated for anumber of other important pathogens," Mekalanos said.
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Materials provided by Harvard Medical School. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
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