Superbugs, Shapes And Nanotechnology, UK

A common hospital superbug called Clostridium has a protective coat of
armour that can self assemble when put into a test tube on its own, which
may have important commercial uses in nanotechnology, according to
scientists speaking today Thursday 6 September 2007 at the Society for
General Microbiology's 161st Meeting at the University of Edinburgh, UK,
which runs from 3-6 September 2007.



Like many other micro-organisms, Clostridium difficile produces a lattice coat
made of proteins to surround its cell wall and protect it like a suit of armour.
The complete protein coat is then attached to the underlying cell wall with
chemical bonds.



"We have discovered that these protein coats have a remarkable ability to
self-assemble when they are taken off the bacteria and put into a test tube.
Normally, on the bacteria, the proteins are not randomly arranged, they form
regularly spaced geometrically arranged shapes, a bit like the rings in chain
mail", says Dr Neil Fairweather of Imperial College London, UK. "We
discovered that the proteins can do the same thing, and form the same
distinct layers and shape, on their own in a test tube".



This finding opens up two areas of research for the science teams. It may
lead to new ways of fighting hospital superbugs like Clostridium difficile by
exposing weaknesses in the coats, or by identifying new target molecules.
And in the new field of nanotechnology, where tiny particles are currently
used in sunscreens and other products, finding ways to make molecules self
assemble themselves into regular shapes could have important commercial
applications.



"The field of nanotechnology is opening up to many new areas, and our
research points to applications for this exciting technology in fighting
superbugs like C. difficile" says Dr Fairweather.


Dr Fairweather is presenting the paper 'Clostridium difficile and nanotechnology' at 1150
on Thursday 06 September 2007 in the Clinical Microbiology Group session of the 161st
Meeting of the Society for General Microbiology at the University of Edinburgh, 03 - 06
September 2007.




Full programme details of this meeting can be found on the Society's website here . Hard copies are available
on request from the SGM.



The Society for General Microbiology is the largest microbiology society in Europe, and
has over 5,500 members worldwide. The Society provides a common meeting ground for
scientists working in research and in fields with applications in microbiology including
medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmaceuticals, industry, agriculture, food, the
environment and education.



The SGM represents the science and profession of microbiology to government, the media
and the general public; supporting microbiology education at all levels; and encouraging
careers in microbiology.



sgm.ac.uk