antibiotic resistance they are a major problem that many have already dubbed the great pandemic of the 21st century. It is much quieter than COVID-19, but has been causing deaths around the world for many years, and if nothing is done to address it, they will continue to grow faster and faster. The ideal would be to promote responsible use of antibiotics. However, at this stage it is also important to look for other ways to deal with resistant bacteria. All types of substances derived from natural springs, such as some plants and even some animal fluids. But the key may be exactly what you want to fight: bacteria.
A group of scientists from McMaster University discovered a toxin produced by bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is able to deal with other species with great efficiency. It’s almost like making resistant bacteria fight each other. Only, in reality, weapons would be used by us.
This is not the first time something like this has been discovered. However, this time it’s even more interesting, as this toxin is attacking a molecule as essential to life as RNA. More research is needed, but this promising path.
Bacterial toxins vs antibiotic resistant bacteria
As paradoxical as it may seem, Pseudomonas aeruginosa it is one of the most problematic resistant bacterial species. This is known for many reasons, but above all for the fact that it causes infections in hospitalized patients. These are very vulnerable people, so a bacterium can be deadly if it develops resistance and we can’t attack it with antibiotics.
Part of its danger lies in the presence very dangerous toxins, both for the animals it infects and for other microbes. One of the most studied of its toxins is exotoxin A. He is known to interfere protein elongationwhen they are synthesized, so it can affect many of the important mechanisms of life in which these proteins play a key role.
This weapon has been used for many years in research to treat the hepatitis B virus. As we already know, viruses do not have the ability to replicate or synthesize their own proteins. They need to capture cell mechanism their owners. If these sticks are also put in wheels when it comes to elongating proteins, it cannot cause disease.
Based on all this, the authors of the study, which has just been published in molecular cell They looked at other toxins until they found one that seemed to attack different kinds of bacteria. They already had a gun but they should have known how it worked
RNA attack
Other bacterial toxins successfully fight various types of bacteria. direct attack on some of its proteins. However, when they tested whether this toxin was capable of doing the same, they found that it was not. In fact, he went much further, to the root of the problem.
In order for the information contained in the genetic material of cells to be converted into proteins that will perform various functions, it must first go through an intermediate stage in which the key actor is messenger RNA. This molecule carries information in a language that can be read by ribosomes, the protein factories of cells.
Therefore, if messenger RNA is captured, proteins cannot be created. In addition, many other processes necessary for cell survival require intervention. various types of RNA.
This is a very interesting discovery because it can interfere pathogenicity belonging antibiotic resistant bacteria even before it comes to fruition. Everything is very promising, but there is still a long way to go before we can organize this virtual fight between cells. In the meantime, we have no choice but to try and block the advance of the resistance. And for that, the best thing is that you throw away all those antibiotics you’ve been saving up for when you’re a little cold. Antibiotics don’t cure everything, and if we insist on trying, the day will come when they won’t be able to cure even the one thing they currently can cure.
Source: Hiper Textual
