Bacterial antibiotic resistance genes discovered
Not only are L-form bacteria difficult to culture and therefore study, but this "fried egg" cluster is part of what makes the L-form bacteria resistant to antibiotics, in addition to the fact that they do not have cell walls for commonly used antibiotics to disintegrate.
Once Zhang and his team were able to successfully culture L-form E. coli, they screened for and identified mutants that fail to grow at the L-form. From these mutants, they were able to discover a series of genes that were linked with the inability to grow in the L-form.
"These fall into four to five different categories involving extracellular matrix synthesis, membrane proteins, membrane biogenesis, DNA repair as well as iron metabolism and energy metabolism," Zhang said.
Their identification of these genes and their effect on L-form bacterial expression is a resounding discovery because it was impossible to do before, what with the difficulty of culturing the L-forms of various bacteria. Zhang noted, however, that although his team managed to create and study a culture of L-form bacteria, their study cannot be universal.
"What we can culture is only a small percentage - probably less than 1 percent - of all bacteria on earth," Zhang said.
"They exist in nature and grow easily, but we're limited to what we can grow and the form of bacteria that can grow. Bacteria can grow a variety of different forms even for the same species, and can change forms under different conditions. L-forms are one example of changing under antibiotic stress."
These L-forms of various bacteria may be the underlying reason for chronic resistant and recurring diseases, such as sarcoidosis, various forms of inflammatory bowel diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. Zhang is confident that there will be many practical applications of this discovery.
"It is possible, with our discovery of the L-form genes to develop new antibiotics and more effective ones that can be used with current ones as well as new vaccines to . . . allow these forms to be eliminated by the immune system," he said.
Once Zhang and his team were able to successfully culture L-form E. coli, they screened for and identified mutants that fail to grow at the L-form. From these mutants, they were able to discover a series of genes that were linked with the inability to grow in the L-form.
"These fall into four to five different categories involving extracellular matrix synthesis, membrane proteins, membrane biogenesis, DNA repair as well as iron metabolism and energy metabolism," Zhang said.
Their identification of these genes and their effect on L-form bacterial expression is a resounding discovery because it was impossible to do before, what with the difficulty of culturing the L-forms of various bacteria. Zhang noted, however, that although his team managed to create and study a culture of L-form bacteria, their study cannot be universal.
"What we can culture is only a small percentage - probably less than 1 percent - of all bacteria on earth," Zhang said.
"They exist in nature and grow easily, but we're limited to what we can grow and the form of bacteria that can grow. Bacteria can grow a variety of different forms even for the same species, and can change forms under different conditions. L-forms are one example of changing under antibiotic stress."
These L-forms of various bacteria may be the underlying reason for chronic resistant and recurring diseases, such as sarcoidosis, various forms of inflammatory bowel diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. Zhang is confident that there will be many practical applications of this discovery.
"It is possible, with our discovery of the L-form genes to develop new antibiotics and more effective ones that can be used with current ones as well as new vaccines to . . . allow these forms to be eliminated by the immune system," he said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 16
Dr Kadiyali M Srivatsa
posted 11/07/09 @ 1:17 AM EST
Interesting, because this finding and observation teaches us more about surviving.
Since Antibiotic was discovered in 1940s, we were made to believe science has all the answers to help us survive on this earth for ever. (Continued…)
Robin
posted 11/07/09 @ 12:01 PM EST
Yes ! Thank you for your research - and I hope they are able to develop the new Antibiotics to the L-form bacteria rapidly !
Phyllis Mervine, CALDA
posted 11/07/09 @ 9:24 PM EST
Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, is one of the bacteria in which ability to transform into L-forms has been reported.
The severely restrictive Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) diagnostic and treatment guidelines for Lyme disease limit treatment to 3 weeks. (Continued…)
Elizabeth L. Maloney, MD
posted 11/07/09 @ 11:08 PM EST
How gratifying it is to see that reporter Aleena Lakhanpal includes Borrelia burgdorferi in the list of bacteria which can transform into an L-form. Perhaps someone should notify Dr. (Continued…)
Beverly Baker
posted 11/08/09 @ 7:28 AM EST
A little good news for the Lyme community this Sunday Morning, hopefully now Doctors will be made aware so they will understand that Lyme is persistent and difficult to treat and yes chronic Lyme (Borrelia burgdorferi) exists in L form. (Continued…)
Margaret Mueller
posted 11/08/09 @ 11:02 AM EST
For those of us being treated with antibiotics for our scleroderma, lyme, lupus, etc. this is only exciting news because, finally, someone besides our doctors will support the treatment of these autoimmune diseases with antibiotics. (Continued…)
Rod Bowley
posted 11/08/09 @ 4:10 PM EST
God Bless you and your team! I never in my best day ever thought I would live long enough to see the stop of the spread of Lyme disease.
Again, God bless you and all of your associates. (Continued…)
Robert R. Tucci
posted 11/08/09 @ 10:09 PM EST
Thank you professor Zhang. God Bless you.
This work will finally lead the medical community to celebrate Dr. Thomas McPherson Brown as the father of modern rheumatology, the man who elevated rheumatology from witch-doctoring to a science. (Continued…)
Dan Crabtree
posted 11/09/09 @ 12:08 PM EST
Dr. Zhangs research and conclusions are a ray of light and reason in what has been a very dark hole. Hopefully his findings, and in particular his team's accomplishment in successfully culturing L-form bacteria, will lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment of many forms of chronic, bacterialogical maladies. (Continued…)
Ralph Emerson Brubaker Jr
posted 11/09/09 @ 1:14 PM EST
I am a Marine and have been sick (with Lyme disease) now for almost 4 years. I can only hope that this article is accepted by our military doctors. The battle is not over; we need to convince doctors that this illness causes severe disability. (Continued…)
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