Scientists from the University of Guelph have used the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan to better understand how several infectious bacteria, including E. coli., build a protective sugar-based barrier that helps cloak their cells.
The study provides very early steps toward new treatments for E. coli and a whole range of bacteria. The researchers are focused on strains of E. coli that cause urinary tract and bloodstream infections, particularly those that are antibiotic resistant. They are working to understand the enzyme that many infectious bacteria use to build the foundations of their protective capsule, which helps shield the bacterium from attack by the human immune system. This foundation could serve as a common point of attack, allowing a single treatment for several key pathogens infecting humans and livestock.
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