Scientists from The University of Manchester have discovered that 'lonely' microbes are more likely to mutate, resulting in higher rates of antibiotic resistance.

The study, published today in Nature Communications and jointly funded by The Wellcome Trust and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, explored the mutation rates of E. coli.

Researchers found out that the rate of mutation varied according to how many of the bacteria there were. Surprisingly, they discovered that more bacteria gave fewer mutations.

Meanwhile more 'lonely' bacteria developed greater resistance to the well-known antibiotic Rifampicin, used to treat tuberculosis.

Dr Chris Knight joint lead author on the study with Dr. Rok Krašovec from The University of Manchester, said: "What we were looking for was a connection between the environment and the ability of bacteria to develop the resistance to antibiotics. We discovered that the rate at which E. coli mutates depends upon how many 'friends' it has around. It seems that more lonely organisms are more likely to mutate."

This change of the mutation rate is controlled by a form of social communication known as quorum sensing – this is the way bacteria communicate to let each other know how much of a crowd there is. This involves the release of signalling molecules by bacteria when in a dense population to help the organisms understand their surrounding environment and coordinate behaviour to improve their defence mechanisms and adapt to the availability of nutrients.

Dr. Krašovec said: "We were able to change their mutation rates by changing who they shared a test tube with, which could mean that bacteria manipulate each other's mutation rates. It also suggests that mutation rates could be affected when bacteria are put at low densities for instance by a person taking antibiotics."

The rate of mutation was found to be dependent on the gene luxS which is known to be involved in quorum sensing in a wide range of bacteria.

The team now hopes to find ways to control this signalling for medical applications in a future study funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

"Eventually this might lead to interventions to control mutation rates, for instance to minimise the evolution of antibiotic resistance, allowing antibiotics to work better," said Dr Knight.

Dr Mike Turner, Head of Infection and Immunobiology at the Wellcome Trust said: "Antibiotic resistance is a real threat to disease control and public health today. Any insight into the origins of such resistance is valuable in the fight to prevent it. Chris Knight and his team have gained a fundamental understanding of bacterial communication and the development of mutations which in the long run could contribute to more potent antibiotics and better control of bacterial disease".

Gentaur offers a compact and efficient platform for Heat Induced Epitope Retrieval (HIER). Heat induced epitope retrieval pretreatment has become a common practice in the immunohistochemistry procedure to improve the quality of staining by modifying the molecular conformation of ‘target’ proteins through exposure of slide-mounted tissue specimen to a heated buffer solution. Appropriate use of heat and pressure along with suitable buffer solutions is of the extreme importance for consistent immunohistochemistry staining.

Montage Opus™ Benefits

• Ensures crisp and clean staining
• Provides consistent and reliable results
• Increases staining efficiency
• 72 Slide Staining Capacity

Montage Opus™ Specifications

Montage Opus™ Accessories

Each Montage Opus™ Unit includes:

• 3- Plastic Slide Dishes
• 3- 24 Slide Rack
• 1- Metal Stand
• 1- Montage 10X EDTA AR Solution (Cat No: K 038-500AN)
• 1- Montage 10X Citrate AR Solution (Cat No: K 035-500AN)

Price: 775€

Download datasheet:  Montage Opus

At the annual conference of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), which will be held from April 26 to May 3 in Philadelphia, will be presented to the successful outcome of Phase II clinical trial of two brand new compared to existing drugs for the prevention of migraine attacks, according to a press release AAN. Both drugs are used first for the prevention of migraine monoclonal antibody. The creators promise a new era of medicine in preventive therapy for this disease.

Target against which drugs work, also not previously been involved in order to prevent migraine attacks - monoclonal antibodies block the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), synthesized by cells of the central and peripheral nervous system neurotransmitter that plays a key role in the transmission of pain.

During the first tests of medicines, ALD403, 163 patients suffering from migraine attacks from five to 14 days per month or one placebo dose. Over the next six months, the group received the drug was observed 66 percent reduction in the number of attacks per month, compared to 52 percent reduction in the group receiving placebo. In 16 percent of the participants received the drug group attacks were completely absent for three months, which was not observed in the placebo group. Difference in side effects between the groups was observed.

In trials of another drug, LY2951742, 217 patients suffering from migraine from 4 to 14 days a month, for three months received twice weekly subcutaneous injections of placebo or drug. In the group receiving therapy, there was a 63 percent reduction in seizure frequency per month compared with a 42 percent decline in the placebo group. In patients receiving the drug were noted side effects such as pain at the injection site, pain in the abdomen and upper respiratory tract infection, but in general medicine was found to be safe and well tolerated.

Although both drugs is still the third phase of clinical trials, according to the representative of the University of California (San Francisco) Godsbi Peter (Peter Goadsby), participated in the creation and testing of both drugs, the results are potentially promising new era in preventive treatment of migraine.

Migraine affects about 14 percent of the adult population and, according to the global health research people on Earth Global Burden of Disease Survey in 2010, is the seventh of disabling diseases.

In a boom for manufacturers of medicinal products has become a new enzyme acting as a specialized "wrench" in the structure of antibiotics.
 
In the so-called kiromisin scientists discern right tool for the creation of these drugs at the molecular level so that we treated more precisely.

Scientists from the University of North Carolina hope to modify this enzyme successfully synthesize stronger and more adaptable antibiotics based on natural compounds, which at the same time sparing the body more than the ones we use now.
 
As is known, they are quite harmful because it effectively destroyed the natural body mechanism which protects us from all disease - the immune system. And she could not fully recover by itself.

When you take antibiotics not only kill the "bad" but the good microbes, leaving the intestines almost completely exhausted the useful regulating the immune response to intestinal flora and therefore seriously compromised immune system as a whole.

The kiromisin can be created by natural and synthetic drugs to withdraw from the chemical laboratory. It is only factory producing the assembly shown by enzymes each of which performs its own specific function.
 
This process would give the medical ability to "stand" on nature in the creation of various drugs that will be cheaper, more efficient and at the same time protecting human health and the environment.