Tuberculosis Skin Surprises

2004/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Mikrobiologia

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria: Mycobacterium tuberculosis . This agent is known to researchers for a long time and the disease can not be said. However, the bacteria still keep secrets.

Now in the cell wall of the bacteria have found an unexpected molecule, a special carbohydrate. And it is special, unlike the rest of the carbohydrates on the wall, because it contains a sulfur atom that adopts a typical appearance of plants.

The cell wall plays an important role in infection: it helps to infect macrophages, weakens the immune system and protects the bacteria from oxidation. It seems that the uniqueness of the molecule they have discovered makes the wall perform these functions, at least in part.

Researchers believe that research will help find new treatments.