Some E. coli bacteria hijack key proteins to survive longer

A new study shows how two strains of the intestinal bug E. coli manage to hijack host proteins used to control the body's immune system. The research shows how E. coli bacteria can block key human enzymes, in a way that has not previously been shown in any other biological context. The enzymes, known as kinases, are molecular switches that control processes such as immune responses to infection and cancers in humans. Better understanding how the E. coli bacteria interfere with kinases will provide valuable avenues for investigating new therapies. There are many different strains of E. coli . While some are good bacteria, others can cause symptoms ranging from mild diarrhoea and nausea to kidney failure and death. The two strains examined in this study are E. coli O157, which causes food-borne infections, and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), which is a major cause of infantile diarrhoea in low-income countries.