Targeting a specific protein could fight bacterial infections

WASHINGTON - A major advance in fighting bacterial infections would help scientists yield therapies for a number of infections, including antibiotic-resistant strains delivering blow after blow in hospitals across the globe.

Scientists at the Center for Biological Research of the Spanish Research Council in Madrid, led by Dr. Antonio J. Martin-Galiano and professor Jose M. Andreu are reporting that they have mapped out a promising target for a strategic hit after carefully analysing a protein that bacteria need in order to reproduce and further infect hosts.

“Bacterial infections are a threat around the globe. This includes not only people in underdeveloped countries, but also patients compromised by the emergence of new antibiotic-resistant pathogens in First World communities and hospitals,” said Martin-Galiano.

“There is an urgent need to find new bacterial targets and new antibiotics with which to fight infections. Our work, by providing basic insight into the inner functional mechanisms of one new target, cell-division protein FtsZ, may be a little bit of help,” he added.

During bacterial cell reproduction, special building-block proteins, known as FtsZ builds scaffolding for the construction of a new dividing ring.

The researchers thought that if FtsZ could be manipulated, perhaps cell division, and replication of the bacteria, could be halted.

The study has been published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry “Paper of the Week.” (ANI)