With anthrax emerging as the favourite biological warfare weapon, a team of researchers from Guntur district has found that the deadly super bacterium can be tackled by attacking its genetic material and protein molecules.
Researchers from the department of biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, have adapted a novel strategy to beat anthrax, which is developing resistance to powerful antibiotics. They discovered 270 non-human and non-redundant homologous genes and 103 essential genes in anthrax bacterium Bacillus Anthracis. These genes can be targeted to kill the super bacterium and treat anthrax in case of an epidemic, if natural or triggered by bioterrorism or biological warfare. Anthrax is a disease of animals and man. It is transmitted through spores. It cannot spread from person to person. The spores can enter the skin through cuts, lungs through breathing and digestive tract through contaminated food. Once the spores enter the body they grow into adult bacterium causing anthrax. If not treated in time, it can cause severe health problems including death.
Anthrax can be treated through antibiotics, but of late, it has developed resistance. Since the ANU team has identified the target genes, new antibiotics can be developed to cure anthrax cases more effectively. These genes help the anthrax bacterium in its metabolism, virulence and protection against the host’s defence mechanism and common antibiotics. As different genes are targeted, it will be easier to kill the pathogen, and reduce its chances of developing resistance to drugs.