MRSA has a gene to suppress its own toxin, a tactic to co-exist with the host?
Jan 17, 2011
The researchers at Tokyo University has found that methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the cause of hospital infection and resistant to antibiotics, has a gene that suppresses its own toxin and movements. Professor Sekimizu says, “It probably is a tactic to coexist with the host by suppressing its own pathogenicity.”
With this gene, the amount of toxin produced by the bacteria was reduced by more than half and the activity slowed down. As a result, a mouse is said to have survived nearly ten times longer.
MRSA was known to make a person with low immune system susceptible to illnesses. However, overseas studies have reported mass infection of healthy people at communal swimming pools and hot pools. Prof. Sekimizu suggests the type of bacteria without this gene as a cause of such occurrence to healthy people.
The study will be published in an American journal in February. Prof. Sekimizu is responsible for establishing the Genome Drug Development Institute, a venture programme by the university, and is developing Kaikosins, an antibiotic effective for MRSA using silkworms. (by Sugimoto)
