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The Virus That Makes a Disposable Syringe

By Guest PostDecember 28, 2013Sciencealpha helical molecules, application, bacteria, bacterial cell, bacteriophage, bentley fane, century long mystery, cryo electron tomography, DNA, dna transmitting structure, e coli bacteria, electron microscope, erica zbornik, host cells, infection, lindsey n young, michael rossmann, Nanotechnology, noninfectious, phix174, prey, purdue university, t7, tube shaped structure, university of arizona, viral, virus, xinzheng zhang

For decades, no one knew how a virus that preys on bacteria transfers its DNA into the host cells because it appeared to lack the structures other viruses use for that process. Now researchers have discovered how the virus does it – using a structure that might hold applications for nanotechnology.

A research team led by the University of Arizona and Purdue University has discovered something very unique about a virus that has been studied for decades: It has the ability to grow a temporary tube-shaped structure, enabling it to inject its DNA into the bacteria on which it preys. (more…)

A new strategy to stop the TB bacterium

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis may have an Achilles’ heel: It needs a particular enzyme to survive. Inhibiting that enzyme’s function, researchers have shown, will kill the bacteria, pointing toward a design strategy for new TB drugs.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — To stay ahead in the race against drug-resistant infections, scientists constantly search for and exploit vulnerabilities in deadly bacteria. Now, researchers from Brown and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have used a novel compound to exploit an Achilles’ heel in the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. (more…)

Tag Archives: bacterial cell

The Virus That Makes a Disposable Syringe

A new strategy to stop the TB bacterium