Decoding the E. coli Defenses

E. coli or Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative gammaproteobacterium commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms. It is responsible for many stomach infections and can be quite harmful to the gut bacteria already present. The bacteria is also increasingly drug resistant, which makes it a worthy adversary to doctor’s prescriptions.

Now researchers at the Cornell University have come up with a study that has revealed the ability of the E. coli bacteria to defend itself against antibiotics and other poisons. Essentially the space between the inner and outer membranes of the bacteria’s cells have defensive proteins which not only detect a threat to the cell, but also line up like barrel staves to form a tunnel between pumps in the cell’s inner and outer membranes to eject the intruders.

While the study in of itself is fascinating, what’s more important is that the researchers can now customize medication to hinder this defense mechanism of the bacteria. That is now being considered as the subject of a separate scientific study. The results of which would be extremely beneficial to those who may suffer from E. coli infections in the future.