In 2007, the group of scientists led by Néstor Carrillo, successfully obtained resistant to diseases and herbicides that were patented plants . Now, in collaboration with the group of Andrea Smania CIQUIBIC and other researchers from the National University of Córdoba, take a step towards a potential target for therapeutic and fibrocystic immunocompetent patients.
In a recent study published in the journal PLOS Genetics, the scientists identified a gene in the genome of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa whose product contributes to the survival and virulence of this organism .
One in ten hospitals report cases of opportunistic infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which affects immunocompromised patients and those with cystic fibrosis , the main cause of death associated with this disease .
In the lung and other pathological fibrocystic environments , the bacteria must face the oxidative attack of the host, and there is a correlation between virulence and the ability to tolerate these oxidative assault . Moreover, Pseudomonas is resistant to a large number of antibiotics belonging to different families.
“The isolated gene Pseudomonas encodes a protein called flavodoxin. The flavodoxins connect different metabolic pathways, and have been consistently associated with antioxidant tolerance in many other organisms, but had not been identified in Pseudomonas” says Carrillo .
He explains , “it was found that the expression of flavodoxin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa increases under oxidative conditions , suggesting an antioxidant role. In fact, a null mutant in this gene accumulated higher intracellular levels of oxidants and showed lower toxicity tolerance peroxide compared to wild type”.
The researcher added that the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa flavodoxin reduces death and mutability caused by oxidative damage and contributes to the survival of this bacterium in cells of the human immune system and the infection model fly Drosophila melanogaster, which in turn increases the rate of infection and mortality of insects.
The flavodoxin gene not found in all strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, only on those virulent . It is located in a variable region of the genome, along with others related to stress tolerance genes.
The results indicate that flavodoxin provides adaptive advantages to the bacteria , to contribute to its survival in oxidative conditions and therefore their virulence . Since flavodoxins are not present in animals, this gene is a potential therapeutic target for patients with cystic fibrosis and immunosuppressed.
