Lately in the news we have heard about the flesh-eating bacteria of group A
streptococcus. Due to many studies at the Houston Methodist Research Institute and the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the mechanism of the bacterial disease has been identified based off of sequencing of almost 5,000 group A
streptococcus genomes. The severity of the cases caused by group A
streptococcus vary in severity. The most common case is strep throat but can be as sever as necrotizing fasciitis. Once sequencing the genome, the original hypothesis was failed to be rejected, changes in the genetic makeup have caused new epidemics. The alterations were in genes that encode two dominant toxins. The genetic changes result in production of single nucleotide polymorphisims, two of which highly increased the production of two toxins that are harmful to humans.
I believe that this method could pave the road for many other discoveries when it comes to unknown mechanisms. This bacteria just so happened to be a very good model organism so sequencing was easier than a bacteria with a massive genome or one that lacks scientists' knowledge. By sequencing, the cause of many diseases was able to be pinpointed down to the exact genes that were being altered.
This article was found at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/08/150810172453.htm
Now that they have sequenced the mechanism of this bacteria they might be able to find a way to prevent some, or most, of the severe cases of this bacteria. This could be a big discovery, especially in the Gulf of Mexico area.
ReplyDeleteMorgan,
ReplyDeleteDuring my undergraduate course I took a Microbiology class and we had a discussion on Group A Strep. I found it so interesting that this bacteria could cause a wide range of problems in our bodies: from strep throat to rheumatic fever if the bacteria in the throat wasn't killed and also if one got a puncture wound and strep entered it, it could cause necrotizing fasciitis. Using next generation sequencing to sequence the entire genome from samples collected over the years, the researchers were able to detect that the changes in the bacteria's genome has been the cause of the many GAS epidemics. I agree with the author in that using this bacterial study as a model could advance the medical field by using the genome to figure out the mechanism by which bacteria works in the disease process to develop novel medication.
I like that you've provided a little of your own perspective at the end. However, since most of the material that you've included is taken from essentially another science blog (Science Daily isn't a primary, or even in this case, secondary source), you should amplify your perspective. Are there specific examples of pathogens that may show the same result or diseases? Maybe you could do a quick lit search to explore how many pathogen genomes have been sequenced, and what if any positive results have come from that.
ReplyDelete