The microorganism Staphylococcus epidermidis is harmless on human skin, but it is the leading cause of hospital-acquired infections and infections of indwelling medical devices. S. epidermidis is associated with an enormous number of infections in people with prosthetic joints, replacement heart valves, and intravenous catheters, and antibiotic resistance makes it tough to battle. Moreover, the mechanism through which the organism becomes so pathogenic once the protective barrier of the skin is removed remains unclear.

In their study appearing online on February 3 in advance of publication in the March 1 print edition of the Journal of Clinical Investigation,.Michael Otto and colleagues from Rocky Mountain Laboratories demonstrate that S. epidermidis secretes an extracellular polymer called poly-gamma-glutamate (PGA) to facilitate growth and ensure survival of the bacteria inside the human host. PGA protects the pathogen from innate host defenses during infection. S. epidermidis is the only human pathogen known to produce PGA other than Bacillus anthracis, but several differences exist in how the two pathogens use PGA to their advantage. PGA is currently used as an antigen for vaccine production against Anthrax

This paper presents PGA as a promising target for drug development aimed at combating these hospital-acquired infections and other illnesses caused by related bacteria.

'"/>

Contact: Stacie Bloom
press_releases@the-jci.org
212-342-4159
Journal of Clinical Investigation
3-Feb-2005

Page: 1
Related biology news :

1. Multinational research: protecting ecology means understanding people, too
2. Abnormal fat metabolism underlies heart problems in diabetic patients
3. Genetic variation helps to understand predisposition to schizophrenia
4. Antioxidant overload may underlie a heritable human disease
5. A study by the MUHC and McGill University opens a new door to understanding cancer
6. Role of thyroid hormones in slumber under investigation at Rutgers
7. Discovery of new protein could provide new understanding of male fertility
8. Forsyth scientists gain new understanding of adult stem cell regulation
9. New role for protein in fat cells may improve understanding of obesity and diabetes
10. Scientists a step closer to understanding how anaesthetics work in the brain
11. Scientists take next step in understanding potential target for ovarian cancer treatment