Streptococcus pneumoniae sticks to dying lung cells, worsening secondary infection following flu

Researchers have found a further reason for the severity of dual infection by influenza and Streptococcus pneumonia -- a new virulence mechanism for a surface protein on the pneumonia-causing bacteria S. pneumoniae. This insight comes 30 years after discovery of that surface protein, called pneumococcal surface protein A. This mechanism had been missed in the past because it facilitates bacterial adherence only to dying lung epithelial cells, not to living cells.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3zSqZDQ

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Seismic study reveals key reason why Patagonia is rising as glaciers melt

New method to detect and visualize sperm cells recovered from forensic evidence