Bacteria can transfer toxic genes
Posted on: Wednesday, 7 January 2009, 18:18 CST
New York University School of Medicine researchers say they are startled to find bacteria may have the capability to stealthily transfer toxic genes.
In laboratory experiments, scientists John Chen and Dr. Richard Novick, discovered the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus could co-opt viruses that infect bacteria, called bacteriophages, and use them as pipelines to transfer genetic material to another kind of bacteria -- Listeria monocytogenes. This is the first time, the researchers say, that phages have been observed to serve as shuttle vehicles for bacterial toxins between different species.
We have found that a bacteriophage can transfer genetic elements, or DNA, between unrelated bacterial species in a way that was really not expected,
Novick says in a statement.
When Chen, a postdoctoral fellow in Novick's laboratory, suggested doing some transfer experiments with bacteriophages. Novick says he had said go ahead, but it won't work.
To his surprise, the bacterial viruses did the completely unexpected.
Although the study, published in Science, uncovered only transfer to Listeria, Novick says the relatively high efficiency suggests that other cases may well exist in nature.
Novick says the transfer is happening by stealth, silently, without anyone noticing.
Source: United Press International
Related Articles
- No Viable Alternative for Measuring Cross-Border Intercompany Transfer Prices, Says Head of OECD Transfer Pricing.
- Bacteria Species May Help Ethanol Output
- Snack Food Bacteria Caused U.S. Outbreak
- Bacterial Disease Eyed in Sea Lion Deaths
- Bacteria Found Digesting Radiated Water
- Pig slurry used to clean polluted pond
- Finns Use Pig Manure to Clean Polluted Pond
- Probiotics May Help Prevent Obesity
- Bacteria Survived Columbia Explosion
- Excess Antibiotics Linked to Allergy Woes
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds