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Scientists discover how potent bacterial toxin kills MRSA bacteria

Date:
November 4, 2019
Source:
University of Sheffield
Summary:
Scientists have discovered how a potent bacterial toxin is able to target and kill MRSA, paving the way for potential new treatments for superbugs.
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Scientists from the University of Sheffield have discovered how a potent bacterial toxin is able to target and kill MRSA, paving the way for potential new treatments for superbugs.

New research, led by Dr Stéphane Mesnage from the University of Sheffield, has explained how lysostaphin specifically recognises MRSA cell walls and quickly causes the breakdown of this pathogen.

The lysostaphin is able to increase the number of its molecules bound to the surface of the MRSA cell and this allows the enzyme to 'walk' along the cell walls and cause rapid breakdown.

Lysostaphin is an enzyme that has been shown to eradicate Staphylococcal infections, such as MRSA, alone or in combination with antibiotics. Although it was discovered over 50 years ago, not much has been known about how it kills these infections.

The scientists hope to use their findings to develop new treatments for MRSA and other antibiotic resistant superbugs which target the infection in a similar way.

MRSA is a bacterial superbug that is resistant to several antibiotics and frequently spreads in hospitals where people are more susceptible to infection.

Dr Stéphane Mesnage, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, said: "Lysostaphin is arguably the most studied enzyme after lysozyme, so we are delighted that our research is able to explain the mechanism underpinning its potent antibacterial activity.

"Our study explains how this enzyme is able to target and digest the MRSA bacteria and why it is so potent. Hospital-acquired infections caused by bacteria resistant to last resort antibiotics are on the rise, but our work could lead to the development of new treatments for these superbugs that use the same targeting mechanism."


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Sheffield. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Luz S. Gonzalez-Delgado, Hannah Walters-Morgan, Bartłomiej Salamaga, Angus J. Robertson, Andrea M. Hounslow, Elżbieta Jagielska, Izabela Sabała, Mike P. Williamson, Andrew L. Lovering, Stéphane Mesnage. Two-site recognition of Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan by lysostaphin SH3b. Nature Chemical Biology, 2019; DOI: 10.1038/s41589-019-0393-4

Cite This Page:

University of Sheffield. "Scientists discover how potent bacterial toxin kills MRSA bacteria." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 November 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191104112812.htm>.
University of Sheffield. (2019, November 4). Scientists discover how potent bacterial toxin kills MRSA bacteria. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191104112812.htm
University of Sheffield. "Scientists discover how potent bacterial toxin kills MRSA bacteria." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191104112812.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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