CCMB Scientists Explore Bacterial Cell Walls for Human Health Insights

Rapid Summary:

• Bacteria have protective cell walls made of peptidoglycan, which is absent in humans and targeted by many antibiotics.
• Scientists at CSIR-Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, led by Dr. Manjula Reddy, discovered that bacteria sometimes use glycine rather of L-alanine when building their cell walls.
• this mistake weakens the bacterial wall, making them more susceptible to antibiotics.
• The team identified an enzyme called PgeF (Peptidoglycan Editing Factor), which helps bacteria maintain proper cell wall composition.
• their study uses genetics and high-resolution mass spectrometry techniques.
• Published findings appeared in the journal PNAS.
• A similar human enzyme, LACC1, potentially affecting immune responses and linked to autoinflammatory diseases may share a related mechanism.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The scientific breakthrough from CCMB provides a clearer understanding of bacterial vulnerabilities during cell wall synthesis-a foundational aspect for developing advanced antibiotics. By identifying the role of PgeF mistakes, researchers pinpoint valuable insights into antibiotic resistance mitigation strategies. Additionally, drawing parallels between bacterial enzymes like PgeF and human enzymes such as LACC1 opens promising avenues for interdisciplinary research exploring how immune systems combat infections.

For India’s scientific community and healthcare sector, this signals meaningful strides in microbiology with practical implications for combating drug-resistant bacteria-a pressing global challenge.Facilitating such innovation could bolster India’s standing within biomedical research while addressing upcoming health concerns associated with evolving pathogens.

Read More: CCMB team uses E.coli to study bacterial cell wall development