Bacteria developing antibiotic resistance via mimicry

Through a process called molecular mimicry, bacteria have been able to bypass our immune system. Bacteria which have been easily treatable in the past are now re-emerging as a threat to our health. Scientists have found methyltransferase in a specific strain of the bacteria Francisella. A single cell of this can be very lethal. It is found in wild rats and other rodents, it can be easily be transferred to humans a number of ways, including simply breathing in the bacteria. This protein, methyltransferase, can also be found in a number of other bacteria including mycobacterium, which causes tuberculosis. This discovery can eventually lead to a new form of treatment.

I find this to be somewhat scary. Tuberculosis kills people annually, and the fact that the same protein that is found in a bacteria that can use mimicry against our immune system is... terrifying, in a sense. I hope that this is something that can eventually become treatable and avoidable. I also hope that we can eventually bring deadly bacteria to a minority.

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2011/06/01/deadly_bacteria_may_mimic_human_proteins_to_evolve_antibiotic_resistance.html


Brittany Graham