Superbug's CPU revealed: Researchers discover chemical clue directing Staphylococcus aureus

McMaster University researchers have discovered a central controller or processing unit (CPU) of a superbug's weaponry.

An article on the breakthrough appears in the high-impact journal Science today.

The team from the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research has revealed that a small chemical, made by the superbug and its drug-resistant forms, determines this disease's strength and ability to infect.

The bacteria is the cause for a wide range of difficult-to-treat human such as pneumonia, toxic-shock syndrome and flesh-eating diseases. It has become known as the as it has become increasingly resistant to antibiotics and especially troublesome in hospitals.

The discovery will provide new options for fight back and disable the virulent bacteria.

"We've found that when these small chemicals in the bacteria are shut down, the bacteria is rendered non-functional and non-infectious," said Nathan Magarvey, principal investigator for the study and an assistant professor of biochemistry and biomedical sciences at McMaster. "We're now set on hacking into this pathogen and making its system crash."

To identify these "pathogen small molecule CPUs", the researchers used cutting-edge chemical mining tools to reveal the molecular wiring associated with their formation. Then, to uncover its function, the McMaster scientists shut off its synthesis, showing that the deadly had been tamed and unable to burst open .

Citation: Superbug's CPU revealed: Researchers discover chemical clue directing Staphylococcus aureus (2010, June 3) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2010-06-superbug-cpu-revealed-chemical-clue.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Researchers discover a new antibacterial lead

0 shares

Feedback to editors