Brussels researchers from the VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology have succeeded in discovering the ‘weak spot’ of a certain type of bacteria that can cause serious diseases. The Center announced this in a press release on Thursday. The findings have been published in the renowned scientific journal Nature.
Biologists categorize bacteria into two major groups: bacteria characterized by a single membrane, and bacteria that have an inner and an outer membrane. It is this second membrane that makes treating this group of bacteria difficult. The outer membrane forms an essential protective layer that shields cells from stressful factors or environments, such as antibiotics.
It is no coincidence that the World Health Organization’s list of the ten most worrying pathogens mainly includes this group of bacteria, called Gram-negative bacteria. Scientists have long been looking for the weak spots of these double-walled bacteria in order to combat them. A team of Belgian researchers at the VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology has now made a breakthrough in research.
The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria contains phospholipids, a type of fat. When the bacterium is put under ‘stress’, and is therefore attacked, for example, by an antibacterial agent, the phospholipids clump together, like oil stains on the surface of the bacterium. Such weakened areas are at risk of bursting under the water pressure in the cells, causing the cell contents to leak out, resulting in the death of the bacteria. This process is called lysis.
The researchers then looked at a specific protein, the SlyB protein, whose function was not yet known. They discovered that when cells sense stress, SlyB proteins move to the leaky phospholipids. There they form ring-shaped nanodisc structures, comparable to a kind of lifebuoy. The structures protect and strengthen the weaker zones of the outer membrane, preventing excessive loss of essential proteins and ensuring the survival of the bacteria. Without the SlyB proteins, the membrane weakens and the bacteria die through lysis.
The discovery offers perspectives for the development of future vaccines against diseases caused by Gram-negative bacteria. The researchers are already working to use the SlyB proteins to our advantage: the proteins can be purified and used in vaccines that stimulate our immune system. This way the body can better recognize incoming diseases. Another possible application is the development of new drugs that prevent the bacteria from forming the nanodisc structures.
“By focusing on these nanodisc structures, we try to turn the bacteria’s protection strategy into their Achilles heel,” says Professor Han Remaut, head of the research group at the VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology. “In this way, we aim to develop new methods to combat Gram-negative bacteria and ultimately drastically shorten the WHO’s list of pathogens of concern.”
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2023-12-14 11:57:04
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