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Proteins Build "Cages" Around Bacteria

Posted by Unknown on from the take-em-on-down-to-the-appendix dept.

ananyo writes "Research in human cells shows that proteins called septins are able to build cages around pathogens to prevent them from infecting other cells. According to the researchers, the newly discovered defense system could lead to new therapies for diseases. The microbes trapped in the cage are later broken down by the cell."

3 of 73 comments (clear)

  1. Our amazing bodies by wvmarle · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Our bodies continue to amaze me. So complex systems, so adaptable and flexible. And the second amazing part is of course that we are able to "see" those molecular processes, can figure out how it happens, and subsequently manipulate it.

    And of course this complexity and flexibility is not limited to the human body but basically all life forms on this planet. The more we learn about life, the more amazing it becomes.

    1. Re:Our amazing bodies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Our bodies continue to amaze me.

      They continue to disappoint me.

      If you take a single bullet in a seemingly insignificant area and don't receive treatment, you'll probably die. Your teeth are incredibly fragile (brushing too hard is bad, most people get cavities, etc). Your bones are fragile. Everything about the human body is fragile.

      Weak and pathetic. That probably applies to most other creatures as well.

  2. Bacterial Lobster Traps by Joe+Torres · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If you think this is cool, then you should look up the work of Dr. Jason Shear at the University of Texas (http://jshear.cm.utexas.edu/jshear/). His laboratory designs cages/houses/traps for bacteria. One of his papers that I am familiar with is "Probing Prokaryotic Social Behaviors with Bacterial 'Lobster Traps'" (http://mbio.asm.org/content/1/4/e00202-10.full).