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"Scientists recently uncovered the structure of the protein coat that surrounds and protects many kinds of bacteria, including those used as biological weapons.<br /><br />Experts hope the new findings will help in the development of vaccines against pathogenic bacteria. Until now, scientists have had little information about the function of the coating, called S-layer, although some bacteria invest as much as a third of their protein production building it, according to <a href=\"http://NewKerala.com\">NewKerala.com</a>.<br /><br />\"Uncovering the bacterial armor of pathogens like the superbug Clostridium difficile or of Bacillus anthraci, the bacterium responsible for anthrax, is now a high priority for many scientists,\" Dr. Stefan Howorka of University College London said, <a href=\"http://NewKerala.com\">NewKerala.com</a> reports. \"This understanding provides a real opportunity to find chinks in the bacterial armor that would allow precise targeting of antibiotics or vaccines against these challenging pathogens.\"<br /><br />A team of scientists from the United Kingdom, France and Belgium were able to image the S-layer of a harmless bacterium found in soil down to a single atom. Visually, it appears as though the proteins of the protective layer hook together in a fashion similar to chain mail.<br /><br />\"Now that we have worked out how to obtain the structure of the S-layer in one bacterium, we expect that the structure of the protein coats of other species will soon be revealed,\" Howorka said, according to <a href=\"http://NewKerala.com\">NewKerala.com</a>.<br /><br />The S-layer helps to support the shape of bacteria and protects them from environmental hazards. It is also believed to play a role in how pathogenic bacteria cause infections, potentially helping them slide into cells where they can cause damage."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://bioprepwatch.com/stories/510509023-scientists-uncover-bacterial-armor>