Neuentdecktes Protein with a big effect
Meningococcal disease is dangerous bacteria, the life-threatening brain skin inflammation (Meningitis) and blood poisoning (Sepsis) can cause. So far, it was unclear what the bacterium makes it so successful in causing such serious diseases. A German research team explained this well, and paves the way for better therapies.
Researchers at the Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg decrypted the role of the Protein ProQ, which is found in meningococci bacteria and ensures that the bacteria are particularly resistant, which makes it a cause of critical illness. The results of the research were recently presented in the prestigious scientific journal “Nature Communications”.
ProQ: Protein makes meningococcal strong
In meningococcus (Neisseria meningitidis), the current study found that the Protein ProQ is a supporting role, when it comes to the pathogenic properties of the bacteria. The Protein is involved in the government and activation of more than 250 bacterial genes. It provides the key to ensuring that meningococcal can repair damage to their genes better, what makes them resistant to oxidative Stress.
Small but strong
“We were surprised that a relatively small Protein can have such a major impact on bacterial gene regulation,” says Professor Christoph Schoen, a research Director of the study. ProQ was only around 120 amino acids. Already medium-sized proteins were usually made up of several hundred amino acids.
“In meningococcal disease, it is a goes with almost 200 different RNA-molecules interactions,” adds Jörg Vogel, the second head of the investigation. It is binding to highly structured regions of the RNA and stabilize its binding partners, explains the scientist.
A new point of attack in the case of meningococcal
The Protein represents a promising target for new therapies against meningococcal disease. “We hope that the binding proteins with a relatively simply constructed substances to the function of disturb and to weaken the pathogens,” stresses Vogel. Overall, the associated binding proteins are but two-thirds of all RNA classes in case of IMD is not yet identified. “Our goal is to identify the complete set of RNA-binding proteins in meningococci with established high-throughput methods systematically,” says Schoen.
Also read: Underestimated risk blood poisoning: one out of Every five dies of Sepsis are the symptoms.
Authors and source of information
This Text meets the requirements of the medical literature, medical guidelines, as well as current studies and was examined by doctors and Medical scientists.