Scientists discover new part of the immune system
A new part of the immune system has been discovered and it is a goldmine of potential antibiotics, scientists have said.
They've shown a part of the body known to recycle proteins has a secret mode that can spew out an arsenal of bacteria-killing chemicals.
The researchers in Israel say it transforms our understanding of how we are protected against infection.
And gives a new place to look for antibiotics to tackle the growing problem of superbugs that resist our current drugs.
The discovery centres on the proteasome – a tiny structure that is found in every cell of the body.
Its main role is to chop up old proteins into smaller chunks so they can be recycled to make new ones.
But a series of experiments, detailed in the journal Nature, shows the proteasome detects when a cell has been infected by bacteria.
It then changes structure and role. It starts transforming old proteins into weapons that can rip open the outer layer of bacteria to kill them.
Prof Yifat Merbl, from the Weizmann Institute of Science, told me: "This is really exciting, because we never knew that this was happening.
"We discovered a novel mechanism of immunity that is allowing us to have a defense against bacterial infection.
"It's happening throughout our body in all the cells, and generates a whole new class of potential natural antibiotics."
The research team went through a process they called "dumpster diving" to find these natural antibiotics.
They were tested on bacteria growing in the laboratory and on mice with pneumonia and sepsis. The researchers said they were getting results comparable to some established antibiotics.
And when the researchers took cells in the laboratory and disabled the proteasome they were far easier to infect with bacteria like Salmonella.
Prof Daniel Davis, the head of life sciences and an immunologist at Imperial College London, said the findings were "extremely provocative and very interesting" as they changed our understanding of how our body fights infection.
"What's really exciting about this, is it's a totally undiscovered process by which anti-germ molecules are made inside our cells, it feels profoundly important and surprising."
But he cautioned that turning this into a new source of antibiotics is an idea that "still needs to be tested" and that will take time.
More than a million people a year are estimated to die from infections that are resistant to drugs like antibiotics.
Drug-resistant infections killing millions - study
But despite the need, there has been a lack of research into developing new antibiotics to keep up with demand.
Against that bleak background, having somewhere new to look is a source of optimism for some scientists.
Dr Lindsey Edwards, a senior lecturer in microbiology at King's College London, told the BBC: "It's a potential goldmine for new antibiotics, that's quite exciting.
"In previous years it's been digging up soil [to find new antibiotics], it is wild that it's something we have within us, but comes down to having the technology to be able to detect these things."
She also says there could be fewer issues with developing them into drugs because they are already products of the human body so the "safety side of it might be a lot easier".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Egg recall over salmonella warning spans across nine states
Almost two million eggs have been recalled in the United States over concerns of salmonella contamination. The recall, announced on Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, affects products distributed in nine states and is associated with various grocery store chains. According to the FDA, California-based August Egg Company of Hilmar is recalling 1,700,000 dozen brown cage-free and brown certified organic eggs due to potential contamination. The eggs were distributed from February 3 through May 15, with sell-by dates from March 4 to June 4, within California and Nevada. Products were distributed at locations including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less, and Ralphs. Eggs were also distributed from February 3 through May 6 with sell-by dates from March 4 to June 19 to Walmart locations in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana, and Illinois. The recalled eggs will have the plant code number P-6562 or CA5330 printed on the carton or package, with Julian Dates between 32 and 126. The recalled retail eggs will be in fiber or plastic cartons, with the above codes printed on one side of the carton. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the frail or elderly, and others with weakened immune systems, according to the FDA. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and even bloody diarrhea. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in more severe illnesses. A statement from August Egg Company read: 'It is important to know that when our processing plant identified this concern, we immediately began diverting all eggs from the plant to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any pathogens. 'August Egg Company's internal food safety team is also conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring. 'We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Scientists make disturbing discovery in riverbed that could endanger millions: 'An emerging public health concern'
A new study has discovered evidence that the presence of microplastics in river water could influence microbial communities, leading to more pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes. The research team collected water samples from the Oder River, which flows over 522 miles through Czechia, Germany, and Poland, putting them in sanitized containers and adding pre-drained sediment and microplastic particles. Compared to a control group, which did not contain microplastics, the test samples showed a higher abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Aeromonas salmonicida, Vibrio spp., Escherichia coli, and Salmonella. The microplastic-contaminated samples also showed higher levels of antibiotic resistance genes, per the study published in Scientific Reports. "The presence of microplastics in [a] water environment and their bioavailability may contribute to, or alter the pattern of, the spreading of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes," the researchers stated, adding that this could be due to microbial competition and their use of microplastics to create biofilms, which makes these particles an environmentally favorable niche for some bacteria species. "This represents an emerging public health concern, particularly in the context of the One Health framework, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health," researchers said. Antimicrobial resistance genes are problematic because they help bacteria resist the drugs meant to treat them. Antimicrobial resistance is one of the top global health threats, according to the World Health Organization, which says it makes infections harder to treat and other medical procedures and treatments, such as surgery and chemotherapy, much riskier. Meanwhile, this is not the first time scientists have sounded the alarm about microplastics, which are small plastic particles that break off of larger plastics as they degrade. These plastics are everywhere, including in water, soil, air, clothing, seafood, and salt. For instance, one study found microplastics in nearly every protein source tested, including chicken, tofu, and beef. While researchers and experts still don't understand the health impacts of microplastics, they've been linked to health problems such as cancer, dementia, and impaired blood flow in the brain. These tiny plastic particles could also be harming some of the world's most important archaeological sites. Researchers in England called attention to this issue following the discovery of microplastics in the soil at two historic sites. While it's difficult to remove microplastics from the environment, it's not impossible. For instance, one group of scientists has discovered a way to rid water of microplastics by using egg whites. How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Plus, some cities and countries are tackling plastic pollution, which is the source of microplastics. For one, England and France banned plastic cutlery for most fast food and takeout meals, while Los Angeles has banned Styrofoam takeout containers. You can cut down on your own plastic use at home by investing in reusable items like metal razors and non-plastic sandwich bags. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Forbes
Why The ‘Strawberry Moon' Will Be Lowest Until 2043 — And How To Photograph It
Tuesday's full strawberry moon occurs during two-year period known as the 'major lunar standstill" ... More or "lunistice," when a once-in 18.6-year event will create the lowest-hanging full moon since 2006 and until 2043. The full moon is seen here rising behind Stonehenge in England. (Photo by) The full strawberry moon will put on a dramatic show at moonrise on Tuesday, June 10 — low, luminous, and colored orange as it climbs into the southeastern sky. Get to an observing location that looks southeast — preferably low to the horizon — and at the specific time of moonrise where you are (during dusk), you'll see the red-orange orb rise before your eyes. Seen from the Northern Hemisphere, the full moon will rise far to the southeast, move across the sky close to the southern horizon, and set in the southwest close to dawn. It's happening because we're in the midst of a rare two-year period known as the 'major lunar standstill" or "lunistice," when a once-in 18.6-year event will create the lowest-hanging full moon since 2006 and until 2043. Earth's axis is tilted by 23.5 degrees with respect to the ecliptic, the path of the sun through the daytime sky, and, in effect, the plane of the solar system. That's what gives us seasons, and that's why planets are always found close to the ecliptic (hence the misused "planetary alignment" claims despite planets always being somewhat aligned with each other). The moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic twice each month, and when those crossings align with a new or full moon, eclipses can occur — hence the shared root in the words 'ecliptic' and 'eclipse.' While the sun's rise and set points vary throughout the year, changing by 47 degrees — and reaching the extreme points at the solstices — the moon's range is bigger, with that 5-degree tilt giving its rise and set points a 70-degree range near a major standstill, according to Griffith Observatory. Mount Coot-tha Lookout, Brisbane A major lunar standstill is a period when the northernmost and southernmost moonrise and moonset are furthest apart. Unlike a solstice (Latin for "sun stand still"), which lasts for one day, a major lunar standstill lasts for two years. These events are most noticeable during a full moon. Essentially, the swiveling and shifting orbit of the moon — a consequence of the sun's gravitational pull — is tilted at its maximum angle relative to the ecliptic. Every 18.6 years, the tilts combine to cause the moon to rise and set as much as 28.5° north or south of due east and west, respectively. Most people won't notice the major lunar standstill, but if you regularly watch the full moon rise from a particular place, go there — you'll get a shock when the moon rises at an extreme position much farther from where you might imagine it will rise. Imaging a full moon using a smartphone isn't easy, but it is possible to capture something special. First, switch off your flash and turn on HDR mode (if available) to better capture both the moon and the landscape as the light fades during dusk. Don't zoom in because digital zoom only blurs the details. Instead, frame the moon within a landscape for more impact, which is especially effective during this month's unusually far-southeast moonrise. If you use a manual photography app, stick to an ISO of 100 for a clean shot and experiment with slower (but not too slow) shutter speeds. A tripod will help, especially when using slow shutter speeds. However, if you don't have one, you can balance your phone on a wall or ledge. The key is to image it when it's low on the horizon and glowing orange. You've got a short window to capture that color, even with this low-hanging full moon, which will turn bright white as it lifts above the horizon. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
