Playing dirty and winning: researchers unveil a surprising detail about tuberculosis bacteria.

Tuberculosis is a well-known disease, and its notorious reputation has several underlying reasons, including the challenges associated with treatment and its contagious nature. However, researchers have recently uncovered the clever tactics employed by its bacteria, which have contributed to its widespread prevalence.

https://focus.ua/technologies/679479-vedet-gryaznuyu-igru-i-pobezhdaet-uchenye-raskryli-neobychnyy-nyuans-bakterii-tuberkuleza2024-11-28 07:51:13

A recent study conducted at the Tufts University School of Medicine has revealed a fundamentally new behavior of the tuberculosis bacterium (TB) — a pathogen that, according to the World Health Organization, ranks first globally in terms of the prevalence of infectious diseases. Researchers found that this bacterium operates under entirely different rules compared to other organisms, which has led to significant challenges for humanity in combating it, reports Technology Networks.

The research, published in the journal Nature Microbiology, indicates that the tuberculosis bacterium is the first observed unicellular organism that maintains a constant growth rate throughout its life cycle, challenging long-held beliefs about bacterial biology. These findings may explain the bacterium's resistance to antibiotics and its ability to evade the immune system.

Molecular biologist and co-author of the study, Bri Aldridge, noted: "Our research shows that the tuberculosis pathogen operates under completely different rules compared to simpler model organisms." The bacterium's ability to rapidly adapt to its human host is crucial for its survival and complicates treatment efforts.

Considering that current treatment methods require months of antibiotic therapy with only an 85% success rate, Aldridge emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of the bacterium's biology to develop more effective eradication methods. Christine Chang, a postdoctoral researcher and lead author of the study, meticulously tracked the growth of individual tuberculosis cells over three years, employing innovative microscopy techniques due to the slow replication rate of the pathogen.

Unlike typical bacteria that grow exponentially as they increase in size, TB cells maintain a steady growth rate regardless of the cell cycle stage. This unique behavior has disproven existing scientific beliefs that ribosomal activity solely regulates bacterial growth rates, allowing researchers to propose the existence of an alternative mechanism specific to TB.

The study also uncovered unexpected features of TB bacterial growth. These cells can initiate growth from any pole after division, deviating from related bacteria that restrict new growth to one end. This variability introduces genetic and functional diversity within TB populations, aiding their survival under adverse conditions such as antibiotic exposure or immune attacks.

By highlighting these unconventional growth strategies, researchers hope to address gaps in the study of TB biology that have hindered therapeutic developments aimed at achieving successful treatment. Aldridge stressed the importance of directly studying pathogens, stating: "There is a vast diversity of life that we are not exploring at a fundamental level, which could backfire on us."

Tuberculosis remains one of the most resilient global health challenges, with over 10 million new cases annually and widespread drug resistance threatening existing control measures.

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